Philadelphia Penn Station Navigation
30th Street Station has multiple entrances: the iconic Market Street main hall (north side), 30th Street side (east, the rideshare pickup), the Service Drive (south, often used for taxis), and the lower-level entrance via Cira Centre's skybridge. Amtrak boards on the upper level; SEPTA boards on the lower level.
Entrances
Market Street (Main)
Market Street between 29th and 30th, north side of stationBest for: First-time visitors — leads directly to the grand main waiting hall
Most architecturally impressive entrance and the easiest to navigate. Taxi stand is just outside on Market Street.
30th Street side
30th Street, west side of the buildingBest for: Uber/Lyft rideshare pickup zone is here
Designated rideshare zone is on this side. Less crowded than Market Street entrance.
Service Drive
South side of the station, off Schuylkill AvenueBest for: Taxi drop-offs, skipping the main hall crowds
Quiet entrance. Good if you're traveling light and want a fast in-and-out.
Cira Centre Skybridge
Connected to the Cira Centre office building west of stationBest for: Connecting from Cira Centre garage parking
Climate-controlled skybridge connects directly to the upper concourse. Convenient for parked travelers.
Platforms & Tracks
Amtrak boards on the upper level (Tracks 1–12). SEPTA Regional Rail boards on the lower level (Tracks 1, 3–7). Each level has its own departure boards. Track assignments for Amtrak post earlier than at NY Penn — usually 15+ minutes before departure.
How to Get to…
Common destinations from Philadelphia 30th Street Station with the recommended route. For full schedules, see our Philadelphia Penn Station schedule guide.
Philadelphia Airport (PHL)
SEPTA Airport Line from the lower level. Runs every 30 min, ~25 min trip, $7.25. Cheapest and fastest option.
Center City (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall)
SEPTA Market-Frankford Line subway from 30th Street Station to 5th St/Independence Hall (~10 min). Or walk east on Market Street (~25 min).
University City / Penn / Drexel campuses
Walk: 5–10 min north on 32nd or 34th Streets. Both campuses are immediately adjacent to the station.
Reading Terminal Market
SEPTA Market-Frankford Line one stop to 11th St (~7 min). Or walk east on Market for 20–25 min.
New York Penn Station
Amtrak Northeast Regional or Acela. NER is ~1h 15min, Acela ~1h 5min. Trains run hourly.