Getting from I95 to I76

July 12, 2006 2:31 PM

Getting around Philly late at night. How and where to eat?

I'm picking up friends at PHL (Philadelphia International Airport) tomorrow night around 11:00pm. We are then driving 2 hours north (up the turnpike) to my place. Staying the night in Philly isnt possible that night.

A couple of concerns:

1) They've never been to PA. I'd love for them to at least *see* the Philadelphia skyline (especially at night). It appears that the only way to get from PHL to the Northeast extension of the turnpike is to go All the way back out I-476 (basically taking the very un-scenic loop around philadelphia)

I am very comfortable on the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), and love driving it at night. The problem is that although I-95 North crosses I-76 west, I cant figure out if there is a way to get ONTO I-76 west from I-95. Is there a way?

2) With the flight getting in that late, Im sure they will be hungry. I'd like to stop at a diner or all night restaurant along the way, but the only things I can find are open that late are at the Allentown Interchange, and at that point, we're only an hour from home. Are there any places to eat along the way (without getting off an exit for more than a mile)?

Thanks in advance!

posted by sandra_s to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

1) I-676 connects I-95 to I-76. It's a bit of a tight turn coming off I-95, so be sure to slow down.
posted by cardboard at 2:39 PM on July 12, 2006

What about a diner in Philly? Off the top of my head - isn't there one on Broad Street? What if you took 95 to 611/Broad Street, and went up that way? It's not always 100% pretty, but they'll get an amazing view of parts of the skyline, as well as the murals going up Broad St (Frank Sinatra, Mario Lanza, etc). Make a left at city hall, and you can pick up 76 around 30th St.

Alternately, there's the South Street Diner, or one of the Midtown diners if you want to really get through the city.
posted by kalimac at 2:43 PM on July 12, 2006

Cardboard:
Dang it, I should've known that! Thanks SO much!

Kalimac:
I LOVE the South Street Diner, but they close at 10pm. most things seem to close at 10. :-(
posted by sandra_s at 2:56 PM on July 12, 2006

Tom Jones is a retro 24-hour diner in Chester, PA. They're famous for the Blue Ribbon special: 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 sausage links, 2 pancakes, 2 slices of toast, juice, and coffee or tea, all for $2.89. A major college destination for us. Chester is at the intersection of 95 and the Blue Route, though, so that would take you off that 95-676-76 route.

Maybe try Pat's or Geno's? They're open quite late. Once again off the highway, but if you're going to do Philly... (My favorite cheesesteak place is Steve's, but that's up in Northeast Philly).

Maybe also try searching for places in Conshohocken, which, if memory serves, is not too far from the intersection of the turnpike and 476.
posted by CiaoMela at 3:05 PM on July 12, 2006

Avoid Broad Street Diner, from what I've heard. The Midtowns are okay--colorful, really. Your best bet for a great diner is the Oregon Diner at 4th-ish (might be 3rd, might be 5th...I don't remember exactly) and Oregon. The food is good, the service is good, and their desserts are WAY beyond good...especially when you compare them to other Philly diners' desserts (avoid them at the Midtown diner unless you get ice cream or a milk shake).
posted by monochromaticgirl at 3:27 PM on July 12, 2006

Pat's and Geno's are open either all night or until REALLY late- I took some friends there around two or three in the morning once to punctuate the end of a very long road trip (as far as I can remember, it was also a weeknight so I'm sure they're not going to be closing any earlier than that on other days).
posted by Oobidaius at 3:48 PM on July 12, 2006

Pat's & Geno's are open all night, but it's quite a detour. And no inside seating. You will all be likely underwhelmed, to say the least.

Broad Street diner is pretty terrible. Oregon Diner is good, and at least on a main artery. Melrose Diner is right off of Broad, though (one block west of Broad on Synder) and is also good.
posted by desuetude at 4:31 PM on July 12, 2006

Pat's and Geno's are both open all night. And crap, sorry! I thought the South St Diner would, you know, act like a real diner and be 24-hour. Is Mom's Tattoo still serving food that late? Their Spanish fries are killer...
posted by kalimac at 4:32 PM on July 12, 2006

From Airport, go north 95.
95 will hit I-476 (Vine Street Expressway.)
Get off at 8th street.
8th street heads south.
You'll cross:
Race, Arch, Market, Chestnut, Walnut, Locust, Spruce, Pine, Lombard, South.
...and the a bunch of streets and then Washington.
When you cross over washington, you're near passyunk (which is a rare angled street, vs. the grid of philadelphia.)

Head to 9th and passyunk
Google map

Go to pats or geno's for the philadelphia cheesesteak experience.

Remember, the Order is "Cheesesteak, With (onions), Wiz (as in cheese whiz.)

Ok, back to see some of philly.

Take any Odd Street north...9th or 11th.

You're going to head back up to Arch (where you'll take a left).
Heading west down Arch, you'll go up to 16th where you'll take a slight right onto the Ben Franklin Parkway.

The Parkway is beautiful...it has two "circles" - just follow the traffic. You want to pass in front of the art museum.

As you pass the art museum, you'll see signs for 76 West...to your right. There is a "Bear Right" down Martin Luther King Drive (also known as East River drive.)

This drive is a huge payoff - it looks beautiful to drive along the river.

And you can go up two lights (which are a good mile plus"), to take a left, and get back on 76 West. You'll take 76 west, all the way to 676 (blue route) back north, the way you were going to get onto the NE extension.
posted by filmgeek at 4:59 PM on July 12, 2006

filmgeek is taking you way out of your way, bless him. What I'm giving you gets you the great skyline drive, including Boathouse Row, without the side trip into South Philly, where you're going to spend at least an hour schlepping around looking for parking and stuff.

Take 95 North out of the airport, then watch the signs, right away, for 291 (Penrose Ave). Take it. Bear left with 291 as it turns into 26th street, and stay on it for a few miles (if that) as it dumps you onto I-76 West. Take in the city to your right, and continue out I-76 (the Schuylkill) along the river westbound until you get to Conshohocken, about eight miles. You want to get off the expressway at that point. Cross the river over to Conshy. The bridge road, and the main drag through Conshy, is Fayette Street. There are some good restaurant/bars there, but you'll have to call to see who's going to be open when you're there. You'll like 401 Diner -- classic diner food. [phone]

From these restaurants on Fayette you're five or 10 minutes from retracing back to 76 west, which turns into 476 about 10 minutes further up, at the Mid-County exchange of the Turnpike.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 5:36 PM on July 12, 2006

Stupid Sexy Flanders beat me to it! I strongly second his route. It's quicker, more scenic, and low traffic until the "expressway"
posted by cmfletcher at 6:00 PM on July 12, 2006

Except for all the refineries you pass on 291. Always bugged me that that's our "Welcome to Philadelphia!"
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:08 PM on July 12, 2006

Skip the South Philly. It's my neighborhood and I love it, but "dinner" that's sitting on a humid street corner in the middle of the summer under bright lights...with no bathroom...not such a great kickoff for their visit.
posted by desuetude at 6:54 PM on July 12, 2006

I like stupidsexyFlanders' itinerary but I'd rather take the Vine Street/I-676 route, you still get the skyline plus the Ben Franklin Bridge which is pretty impressive at night. Just take I-95 North to I-676 West which will also be labelled Vine Street. It cuts straight across the city (partly under it actually) without all that messy refinery stuff & meets up with the Schuylkill just below the Art Museum & Boathouse Row.
posted by scalefree at 7:19 PM on July 12, 2006

I've lived in this damn city my whole life, and StupidSexyFlanders whups my butt in itinerary :)

South Philly's an interesting part of the city. Maybe not so interesting at 11 at night, though. (I live here, and love it, but it's an acquired taste.)
posted by kalimac at 8:17 PM on July 12, 2006

Remember, the Order is "Cheesesteak, With (onions), Wiz (as in cheese whiz.)

Or, more simply, "wiz with".
(And even more simply, "wiz wit".)
posted by inigo2 at 6:56 AM on July 13, 2006

Yeah, I usually say "cheese, wit," when I want wiz.
posted by ludwig_van at 3:51 PM on July 13, 2006

I triple the Oregon diner.

It's on Oregon near 4th and they recently underwent major rennovations. Much cleaner and tasty food.
posted by tozturk at 10:45 PM on July 13, 2006