How far is Swarthmore, PA from Philadelphia, PA?
The driving distance from Swarthmore, PA to Philadelphia, PA is about 17.1 miles (27.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 10.4 miles (16.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 28m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Swarthmore and Philadelphia.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swarthmore and Philadelphia.
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1
Start on Park Avenue
601 ft · 27 sec · Park Avenue
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2
Turn right onto North Chester Road
26 m · 4 sec · North Chester Road
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3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Chester Road
82 m · 12 sec · North Chester Road
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4
Exit the roundabout onto North Chester Road
1 mi · 3 min · North Chester Road
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5
Turn slight right onto East Baltimore Pike
2.1 mi · 4 min · East Baltimore Pike
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6
Continue on West Baltimore Avenue
1 km · 1 min · West Baltimore Avenue
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7
Turn right onto South Springfield Road
1.9 mi · 4 min · South Springfield Road
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8
Turn left onto South Macdade Boulevard
1.4 mi · 3 min · South Macdade Boulevard
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9
Turn right onto West Cobbs Creek Parkway
56 m · 8 sec · West Cobbs Creek Parkway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on West Cobbs Creek Parkway
78 m · 7 sec · West Cobbs Creek Parkway
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11
Continue on South 65th Street
1583 ft · 49 sec · South 65th Street
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12
Turn left onto Chester Avenue
51 m · 8 sec · Chester Avenue
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13
Turn right onto South 65th Street
542 ft · 22 sec · South 65th Street
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14
Turn left onto Kingsessing Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · Kingsessing Avenue
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15
Turn right onto South 58th Street
580 ft · 23 sec · South 58th Street
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16
Turn left onto Greenway Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Greenway Avenue
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17
Continue on South 48th Street
744 ft · 23 sec · South 48th Street
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18
Turn left onto Grays Ferry Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · Grays Ferry Avenue
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19
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
80 m · 4 sec · Washington Avenue
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Washington Avenue
1.4 km · 2 min · Washington Avenue
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21
Turn left onto South 16th Street
1 mi · 2 min · South 16th Street
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22
Turn right onto Market Street
141 m · 20 sec · Market Street
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23
Turn right onto South 15th Street
26 m · 2 sec · South 15th Street
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24
Turn slight left onto South Penn Square
115 m · 9 sec · South Penn Square
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25
Keep slight left to continue on South Penn Square
51 m · 3 sec · South Penn Square
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Penn Square
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Swarthmore and Philadelphia.
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.
East Baltimore Pike
Turn slight right onto East Baltimore Pike
2.08 mi · 00h 04m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Swarthmore and Mostly Sunny near Philadelphia.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Swarthmore to Philadelphia?
The road trip is about 17.1 miles (27.5 km) and usually takes 00h 28m 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?
Darby is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.5 miles from Swarthmore and 10.6 miles from Philadelphia.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 10.4 miles (16.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.7 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 7:32 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.45 one way or $4.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Swarthmore and Mostly Sunny near Philadelphia.
Stop Ideas Near Darby
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Bluestone Lane City Hall Coffee Shop
Dilworth Park
Philadelphia Marriage License
City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Darby.
30th Street Station
Ardmore
North Philadelphia station
Pennsauken, NJ
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Swarthmore and Philadelphia. Straight-line distance: 10.46 mi (16.83 km).
#1 Swarthmore
Borough of Pennsylvania
| Population | 6,372 |
| Coordinates | 39.9020600, -75.3499100 |
| Altitude | 39 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Philadelphia
The sixth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
| Population | 1,578,487 |
| Coordinates | 39.9523300, -75.1637900 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Penn Square (-75.163922, 39.951648)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 27 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $2.45 | $4.90 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $2.76 | $5.52 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $2.97 | $5.94 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $3.59 | $7.18 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.