How far is Philadelphia, PA from Chester, PA?

The driving distance from Philadelphia, PA to Chester, PA is about 15.2 miles (24.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.5 miles (20.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
15.24 mi
00h 27m
Flight
12.46 mi
20.05 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Philadelphia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.46 mi
Kilometers
20.05 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
15.24 mi
Kilometers
24.52 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chester
Sat, Apr 11, 3:23 AM EDT
Return by in Philadelphia
Sat, Apr 11, 3:51 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Philadelphia
2026-04-11T02:55
Arrive Chester
Sat, Apr 11, 3:23 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:28 AM to 7:28 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Philadelphia
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Colwyn
PA

Borough of Pennsylvania

From Philadelphia
7.6 mi
00h 13m
To Chester
7.6 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
66°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Philadelphia and Chester.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia and Chester.

  1. 1

    Start on South Penn Square

    121 m · 9 sec · South Penn Square

  2. 2

    Keep slight left to continue on East Penn Square

    737 ft · 19 sec · East Penn Square

  3. 3

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard

    85 m · 5 sec · John F. Kennedy Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North 15th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North 15th Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Washington Avenue

    2782 ft · 1 min · Washington Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto South 21st Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · South 21st Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Oregon Avenue

    594 ft · 22 sec · Oregon Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto South 20th Street

    1796 ft · 40 sec · South 20th Street

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Moyamensing Avenue

    25 m · 2 sec · West Moyamensing Avenue

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto West Moyamensing Avenue

    87 m · 7 sec · West Moyamensing Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Penrose Avenue

    2.4 mi · 5 min · Penrose Avenue

  12. 12

    Take the exit straight toward Philadelphia International Airport

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South

    1660 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Delaware Expressway

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Delaware Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Providence Avenue, Edgmont Avenue

    1232 ft · 35 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Chestnut Street

    1205 ft · 37 sec · Chestnut Street

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Morton Avenue

    1775 ft · 48 sec · Morton Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto East 5th Street

    1161 ft · 51 sec · East 5th Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Philadelphia and Chester.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
19 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
125 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Delaware Expressway
6.25 mi · 41%
Penrose Avenue
2.43 mi · 16%
South 21st Street
1.46 mi · 10%
Philadelphia International Airport
1.34 mi · 9%
North 15th Street
1.11 mi · 7%
Washington Avenue
0.53 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Delaware Expressway

Merge slight left onto Delaware Expressway

6.25 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.7 mi
12.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Colwyn
00h 13m from Philadelphia
Leave By
7:34 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Philadelphia and Sunny near Chester.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Philadelphia to Chester?

The road trip is about 15.2 miles (24.5 km) and usually takes 00h 27m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Colwyn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.6 miles from Philadelphia and 7.6 miles from Chester.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 12.5 miles (20.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.21 one way or $4.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Philadelphia and Sunny near Chester.

Stop Ideas Near Colwyn

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Colwyn and the surrounding midpoint area.
Bluestone Lane City Hall Coffee Shop
Coffee break 6.1 mi away

Bluestone Lane City Hall Coffee Shop

Philadelphia , PA
1 S Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Rating 4.2/5 163 reviews Coffee shop,Bar,Cafe
Dilworth Park
Scenic stop 6.1 mi away

Dilworth Park

Philadelphia , PA
1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States
Rating 4.5/5 7,605 reviews Tourist attraction,Event venue,Park
Philadelphia Marriage License
Meeting point 6.2 mi away

Philadelphia Marriage License

Philadelphia , PA
415 City Hall, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Rating 4.3/5 45 reviews City government office,Marriage license bureau
City Hall
Nearby stop 6.1 mi away

City Hall

Philadelphia , PA
Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
Rating 4.3/5 106 reviews Subway station

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Colwyn.

RAIL

30th Street Station

8 mi away
2955 Market St.
RAIL

Ardmore

11 mi away
Station Road and Lancaster Ave.
RAIL

North Philadelphia station

13 mi away
2900 North Broad St.
BUS

Pennsauken, NJ

18 mi away
215 Derousse Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Philadelphia and Chester. Straight-line distance: 12.46 mi (20.05 km).

Philadelphia

#1 Philadelphia

The sixth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Population1,578,487
Coordinates39.9523300, -75.1637900
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Chester

#2 Chester

City in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States

Population4,072
Coordinates39.8496700, -75.3570700
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Philadelphia (-75.16379, 39.95233)
End: Chester (-75.35707, 39.84967)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 25 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.54 gal
2.04 L · about $2.21
Round trip
$4.41
1.08 gal · 4.08 L
Estimated CO2
4.8 kg one way
Round trip: 9.6 kg / 21 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.21 $4.41
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.48 $4.97
Premium $4.95 $2.68 $5.35
Diesel $5.98 $3.23 $6.46

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · Apr 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Philadelphia and Chester. The current time is 02:55:41.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.