School Field Trip Charter Buses in Philadelphia

Field trip transportation in the Philadelphia region

Few regions offer as many field trip destinations within an hour's drive as Philadelphia. American history is concentrated in a few walkable blocks of Old City, the city's museums cover science, art, and childhood play, and the suburbs add battlefields, gardens, farms, and theme parks. Philly Charters arranges school buses, minibuses, and 56-passenger motorcoaches for public, private, and charter schools, homeschool co-ops, camps, and youth programs across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Every trip is run by DOT-licensed (FMCSA) partner carriers and is state compliant. Driver gratuity is included in your quote, and one local team handles the planning from first email to return trip.

Popular field trip destinations

Independence National Historical Park

The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Congress Hall sit within a few blocks of each other. The Liberty Bell Center needs no tickets, while Independence Hall uses free timed-entry tickets from March through December, with an open house early each morning. Teachers can arrange school-group tickets through the park. See our Independence Park charter guide.

Philadelphia Zoo

America's first zoo, in West Fairmount Park, is a classic spring trip for elementary grades. Coaches drop at the entrance and park nearby. See the Philadelphia Zoo guide.

Museums on and near the Parkway

The Franklin Institute's science exhibits, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Barnes Foundation are clustered along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the Please Touch Museum in Memorial Hall serves younger children. Lunch at Reading Terminal Market is a favorite add-on for older students.

Revolutionary War sites

Valley Forge, Washington Crossing, and the Brandywine battlefield pair naturally with a fifth-grade or eighth-grade American history unit. Eastern State Penitentiary is a popular choice for high school history and civics classes.

Day trips beyond the city

Longer trips include Lancaster County farms and heritage sites, Hershey, the Crayola Experience in Easton, Longwood Gardens, the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, and New York City museums for older grades. In South Jersey, the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield and the Camden waterfront are short rides from the city.

School bus or motorcoach?

School buses are the most economical high-capacity option for short local trips. Motorcoaches add reclining seats, restrooms on most full-size coaches, and luggage bays, which matter for longer days such as Hershey, Lancaster, or New York. Minibuses suit a single class, a club, or a team of chaperones and students. Tell us your headcount, including adults, and the distance, and we will recommend the right mix of vehicles.

How we plan a field trip

• Itinerary first. Send the school address, destination, arrival time, and departure time. We plan the route around school dismissal and city traffic.
• Headcount and seating. Count every student, teacher, and chaperone. We size the vehicles so no one is left standing at the curb.
• Drop-off and parking. Old City and the Parkway have designated bus loading areas; we confirm where the driver will drop off, stage, and pick up.
• Paperwork. If your school needs vendor forms or other paperwork, tell us early and we will let you know what we can provide for your trip.
• Day-of contact. Give us a lead teacher's mobile number so the driver can coordinate pickup times.

A sample field trip day

A typical Old City trip leaves school around 8:30 a.m., drops at the Independence Visitor Center for a morning at the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, walks to lunch, adds the National Constitution Center or a museum in the afternoon, and boards the bus by 2 p.m. to beat the afternoon rush back to the suburbs.

Booking timelines

Spring, especially April through early June, is the busiest field trip season, followed by October. Book as early as you can for those months, and send us any date flexibility so we can find the best fit. Fall and winter trips to museums and holiday performances are easier to schedule.

Book your School Field Trips group trip

Trips run by DOT-licensed (FMCSA) partner carriers, state compliant, and driver gratuity is included in your quote. Email quotes@phillycharters.com, call (267) 223-4647, or request a free quote online with your date, headcount, pickup address, and stops. Trusted since 2015 · in passenger travel since 2011.