professional conference ditch 'em
January 5, 2018 3:15 PM Subscribe
Haven't spent a lot of time in the East and trying to muddle through commuter train schedules has got me a bit befuddled.
I want to ditch out during an afternoon while I'm at a professional conference in Philadelphia later this spring and visit New York City for a few hours (never been, natch). Looks like it will be easy to get from Philly to NYC by train midday. But I'm finding there's a major gap in Acela/Amtrak service from about 11:30p until 3:00a leaving from Penn Station to the 30th Street Station most days of the week. Are there other mass transit-type options/schedules/routes for returning in a slightly inebriated state to Philadelphia from New York in the early morning hours that I'm missing? Is it just wack to think about taking an Uber/Lyft/black car this distance in the part of the world? Note: I'm not a rich man by anyone's standard.
I want to ditch out during an afternoon while I'm at a professional conference in Philadelphia later this spring and visit New York City for a few hours (never been, natch). Looks like it will be easy to get from Philly to NYC by train midday. But I'm finding there's a major gap in Acela/Amtrak service from about 11:30p until 3:00a leaving from Penn Station to the 30th Street Station most days of the week. Are there other mass transit-type options/schedules/routes for returning in a slightly inebriated state to Philadelphia from New York in the early morning hours that I'm missing? Is it just wack to think about taking an Uber/Lyft/black car this distance in the part of the world? Note: I'm not a rich man by anyone's standard.
There are many options. You can take NJ Transit from Penn Station to Trenton and then get a SEPTA train to Philly - though there may be an overnight gap there as well. There is also the BOLT Bus, the MegaBus, and Greyhound.
posted by Miko at 3:24 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 3:24 PM on January 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Is it just wack to think about taking an Uber/Lyft/black car this distance in the part of the world?
It would be a little nuts, so what would be more sane would be to go at least as far as Trenton on the train and then get the Uber.
posted by Miko at 3:24 PM on January 5, 2018
It would be a little nuts, so what would be more sane would be to go at least as far as Trenton on the train and then get the Uber.
posted by Miko at 3:24 PM on January 5, 2018
I'm not sure how strict the major bus lines such as Bolt and Megabus are about intoxication, but they do list the possibility of refusing service.
Just as another option, there's a small fleet of buses from Chinatown in NYC to Philly. They're pretty cheap (and feel like it) but you'll get from A to B without much hassle.
posted by xenization at 3:31 PM on January 5, 2018
Just as another option, there's a small fleet of buses from Chinatown in NYC to Philly. They're pretty cheap (and feel like it) but you'll get from A to B without much hassle.
posted by xenization at 3:31 PM on January 5, 2018
The last NJT-SEPTA connection via Trenton leaves Penn station at 10:38p on weekdays, or if this is Saturday revelry, you have until 12:14a early Sunday morning.
Bus-wise, I don't see any overnight Bolt or Megabus options. There's a Greyhound that leaves NYC at 3:15, but if that's the case, you'll be better off/more comfortable on Amtrak.
posted by basalganglia at 3:57 PM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Bus-wise, I don't see any overnight Bolt or Megabus options. There's a Greyhound that leaves NYC at 3:15, but if that's the case, you'll be better off/more comfortable on Amtrak.
posted by basalganglia at 3:57 PM on January 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I would not even consider the Chinatown bus. It has a reputation as being dirty and with a poor history of maintaining its vehicles. Additionally, it drops you off in Chinatown in New York, which is probably not where you want to go. It caters to Chinese-speakers, so you might find communication a challenge.
If you're at a conference, will you be in Center City? Greyhound would be convenient (10th and Arch), and you'll disembark at Port Authority, on 8th Ave at about 44th street, I believe. Port Authority is itself an experience, but it's pretty dismal. It does have location in its favor.
If you are perhaps at Penn or Drexel for your conference, the Bolt and the Megabus leave from 30th St (actually outside of the station on a designated area along the sidewalk). It's outside. If the weather is cold or inclement there's no covered place to wait. Same on the New York end. Both lines arrive at 11th Ave right next to the Javits Center at 33rd st. (some of the Bolt buses have a stop in SoHo also. Check their website if you're interested). You'll need a cab to get anywhere unless you want to walk on the High Line, which ends close by. If you like to walk and are tempted to do so, keep in mind that the NYC blocks are very skinny rectangles, with the looong end between the avenues, and the short ends between the numbered streets, so it takes no time at all to go from 33rd st to 43rd street, but much longer to go from 11th Avenue to 8th Avenue, for example. Even with these limitations I'm a fan of the Bolt Bus. I took the Megabus once, but disliked the double-decker configuration.
Additional tip; if you create a (free) account on the Boltbus website, you will be in the first boarding group ( "A") and will have your pick of seats. It probably won't make any difference to you, but signing up also results in your receiving a free ride after every 8 paid trips. It took me several years to learn this, unfortunately, since I'm usually a very reluctant joiner of on-line groups, MetaFilter notwithstanding.
posted by citygirl at 4:39 PM on January 5, 2018
If you're at a conference, will you be in Center City? Greyhound would be convenient (10th and Arch), and you'll disembark at Port Authority, on 8th Ave at about 44th street, I believe. Port Authority is itself an experience, but it's pretty dismal. It does have location in its favor.
If you are perhaps at Penn or Drexel for your conference, the Bolt and the Megabus leave from 30th St (actually outside of the station on a designated area along the sidewalk). It's outside. If the weather is cold or inclement there's no covered place to wait. Same on the New York end. Both lines arrive at 11th Ave right next to the Javits Center at 33rd st. (some of the Bolt buses have a stop in SoHo also. Check their website if you're interested). You'll need a cab to get anywhere unless you want to walk on the High Line, which ends close by. If you like to walk and are tempted to do so, keep in mind that the NYC blocks are very skinny rectangles, with the looong end between the avenues, and the short ends between the numbered streets, so it takes no time at all to go from 33rd st to 43rd street, but much longer to go from 11th Avenue to 8th Avenue, for example. Even with these limitations I'm a fan of the Bolt Bus. I took the Megabus once, but disliked the double-decker configuration.
Additional tip; if you create a (free) account on the Boltbus website, you will be in the first boarding group ( "A") and will have your pick of seats. It probably won't make any difference to you, but signing up also results in your receiving a free ride after every 8 paid trips. It took me several years to learn this, unfortunately, since I'm usually a very reluctant joiner of on-line groups, MetaFilter notwithstanding.
posted by citygirl at 4:39 PM on January 5, 2018
I have changed at Trenton very late at night several times (NJT to SEPTA and back). It's been a while, but I think it's even right across the same platform. Don't bother with any weird alternative--you'll be fine.
posted by 8603 at 4:41 PM on January 5, 2018
posted by 8603 at 4:41 PM on January 5, 2018
Both lines arrive at 11th Ave right next to the Javits Center at 33rd st. (some of the Bolt buses have a stop in SoHo also. Check their website if you're interested). You'll need a cab to get anywhere unless you want to walk on the High Line, which ends close by.
The subway (7 train) now stops at 34 St-Hudson Yards, which is at 34 St and 11 Av, so a very short distance away from the Javits Center and the Megabus/Bolt Bus dropoffs. No need for a cab.
posted by andrewesque at 5:24 PM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
The subway (7 train) now stops at 34 St-Hudson Yards, which is at 34 St and 11 Av, so a very short distance away from the Javits Center and the Megabus/Bolt Bus dropoffs. No need for a cab.
posted by andrewesque at 5:24 PM on January 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Hey, it turns out SEPTA has a schedule that includes the NJ Transit connection from NY Penn! But the only post-midnight connection available appears to be on Sat night/Sun morning.
Also, though Google seems a little confused on this, according to Megabus's website, the late Megabus to Philly doesn't run on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday mornings.
posted by praemunire at 9:47 PM on January 5, 2018
Also, though Google seems a little confused on this, according to Megabus's website, the late Megabus to Philly doesn't run on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday mornings.
posted by praemunire at 9:47 PM on January 5, 2018
If you're even considering an Uber for that ride, for a fraction of the cost you could grab a hotel and take a morning train back to Philly.
posted by wile e at 3:47 AM on January 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by wile e at 3:47 AM on January 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Seconding find a hotel in NY, you don't want to be traveling inebriated in the middle of the night in strange places, it's just no fun. And the hotel wil give you a wake-up call to make sure you get to the train on time. Splurge, you won't regret it.
posted by mareli at 7:45 AM on January 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 7:45 AM on January 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
I would not even consider the Chinatown bus. It has a reputation as being dirty and with a poor history of maintaining its vehicles. Additionally, it drops you off in Chinatown in New York, which is probably not where you want to go. It caters to Chinese-speakers, so you might find communication a challenge.
Not true anymore.
More than a few stop in midtown and they all cater to the budget traveler, so communication won't be an issue unless you have some bizarre question
posted by TravellingCari at 10:45 AM on January 9, 2018
Not true anymore.
More than a few stop in midtown and they all cater to the budget traveler, so communication won't be an issue unless you have some bizarre question
posted by TravellingCari at 10:45 AM on January 9, 2018
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Alternatively, a Megabus usually leaves at 1:15 am for Philly.
posted by praemunire at 3:23 PM on January 5, 2018