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Philadelphia – Thanksgiving Transit Guide

November 24, 2024

    Dear Mooviters, 

    It’s that time of year again for turkey, pumpkin pie, and family gatherings! Thanksgiving is also one of the busiest travel times of the year, and using transit can save time and stress.

    Here are some top tips for navigating transit during the holiday:

    🦃Be Prepared for the Turkey Day Traffic & Transit Changes!

    Peak Travel times are:

    • Wednesday, Nov. 27 (just before Thanksgiving)
    • Saturday, Nov. 30 (post-feast travels)
    • Sunday, Dec. 1 (heading home from holiday visits)

    Thanksgiving Day:

    • SEPTA will be offering holiday service!
    • Plan for The 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade!
    • Continue reading below for full list of service changes for Thanksgiving & the Parade👇

    🚍Plan Ahead & Take Public Transit to Thanksgiving!

    • 🗓Plan:
      • Use Moovit to plan your trip in advance to check for best travel options.
      • Traveling out of your metropolitan area? No worries, Moovit includes Intercity options like Amtrak, Flixbus, & Megabus.
      • Traveling on Wednesday – consider traveling early or late to avoid the rush. 
      • Park & Ride – check park & ride options in your area to access hub stations and leave the car behind.
    • 🎟Pay:
      • If available pay for your ticket in advance to save hassle at the station
      • Amtrak and other intercity services often require reservations during Thanksgiving. Book tickets as early as possible.
    • 🚌Ride:
      • Use Moovit during your trip for real-time arrivals.
      • Check Moovit for service updates that impact your trip.

    No matter how you choose to travel this Thanksgiving, remember:  Transit offers plenty of options to make your journey smooth, simple, and stress-free. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the holiday season—whether you’re shopping, traveling, or spending time with loved ones!


    Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Day Parade:

    🦃 Thanksgiving day, Thursday, November 28th, SEPTA will operate a modified schedule. Metro and Regional Rail routes will operate a Sunday schedule. 

    🥁 The 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 8:30 am on Thanksgiving day. The Parade begins at 20th and JFK Boulevard, turning LEFT on 16th Street to the Ben Franklin Parkway. The parade turns left on the Parkway to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

    🧭️ To get to the parade on SEPTA – ride Regional Rail to Suburban Station, Trolley to 19th or 22nd Street Stations, Market-Frankford Line to 15th Street, Broad Street Line to City Hall, or Bus Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43 or 48 (be aware of detours).

    🛑 Street Closures: Streets on and around the parade route will be closed. Closures start at midnight before the parade. Read below for full details.

    ⚠️ SEPTA Detours: SEPTA Bus Routes 2, 7, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124/125 and MFO will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 8 am on Thursday, November 23 through approximately 2 pm. 


    Parade Road Closures and Times:

    Midnight – 12:00pm – 20th street between JFK Blvd and Market Street
    2:00am – 11:00am – 20th Street between Ben Franklin Parkway and Race Street
    5:00am – 12:00pm – 20th Street between JFK Blvd and Arch Street
    6:00am – 12:00pm – 20th Street between Market Street & the Ben Franklin Parkway
    8:00am – Full Parade Route
            JFK Boulevard – 30th St. TO 16th St.
            20th St. from Market to Ben Franklin Parkway
            16th St from JFL Blvd to Ben Franklin Parkway
            Ben Franklin Parkway to Art Museum

    Happy Thanksgiving, 

    The USA Moovit Team

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