If you are heading to Philadelphia, in the US state of Pennsylvania, known as the Keystone State, there are plenty of options with Avis offices across the city.

Philadelphia, or Philly as it’s known, is the fifth largest city in the United States. It lies on the shore of the Delaware River and close to the border with New Jersey and within easy reach of New York and Washington DC.

With our Avis team at Philadelphia, 30th Street Station, you can easily and conveniently collect your Pennsylvania car rental to explore Philadelphia and the surrounding area and experience all it has to offer.

At the heart of the Philadelphia rail network, William H. Gray III 30th Street Station as it is officially known, is the major transit station in the city. Opened in 1933, the station has a grand façade with towering columns in reference to classical architecture. The huge waiting room is lined with travertine stone with a ceiling painted in gold, red and cream.

Serving in excess of 4million passengers a year, 30th Street Station is the 12th busiest railway station in the United States and the third busiest Amtrak, intercity service station after Penn Station in Manhattan and Union Station in Washington. The station also serves regional commuter lines including the NJ Transit Atlantic City line and the SEPTA regional service which connects to 150 stations across Pennsylvania.

The Avis rental counter is easy to find in the centre of 30th Street Amtrak Station. From the platform, go up the escalator and turn left where you’ll find our counter close to the Information Desk. You’ll find your rental car located downstairs in the parking garage and be returning the vehicle to the same location.

Philadelphia offers visitors a trip filled with history, sightseeing, and great food. As the largest city in Pennsylvania, you’ll discover fascinating historical buildings like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written in 1776, and other important sites from American history. You’ll want at least 3 days to explore the city sights and get a flavour of life here thanks to the richness of the culture, history, arts, and nautical heritage.

As the home of United States Marine Corps founded here in 1861, the city also has an important story to tell in the country’s naval history.

Don’t miss the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art which within a grand space features everything from renaissance classics to modern art and special exhibits, or the Reading Terminal Market, a popular farmers market that has been bringing local produce to the city since 1893.

The beautiful sights you’ll enjoy in Philadelphia don’t end at the city’s borders. In this part of Pennsylvania, you will discover a rich variety of landscapes, community and places to visit from national parks and coastal villages to visitor attractions and historical buildings.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Head for this important centre for American Civil War history just 2hr40min – 141 miles - west of Philadelphia along Interstate highway 76. There you’ll find the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, displaying Civil War artifacts, and Gettysburg National Cemetery, where a memorial marks the site of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Gettysburg Address.

Brandywine Valley Scenic Drive

The Brandywine Valley takes in a corner of the mid-Atlantic region at the meeting point of Delaware and Pennsylvania. The area is described as the heart of American’s garden capital with stunning scenery, walking trails, famous wineries and breweries nestled among rolling hills and valleys.

From our Avis location at 30th Street Station, head south and take Interstate 95 for 37 miles, a trip of around 49min and you’ll reach West Chester and the Brandywine Valley.

While many parts of the historic city of Philadelphia are easy to get around on foot and public transport, the city area is vast and it is worth hiring a car to travel across and outside the city. Renting a car in Philadelphia gives you the chance to explore further afield opening opportunities to plan a road trip around Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The top tip for driving around Philadelphia is to plan your route carefully, use GPS and try and avoid the rush hour.

It’s worth checking the driving rules in the USA before you travel and pick up your hire car. In Philadelphia, like the rest of North America, you will be driving on the right-hand side of the road. Pennsylvania has a high deer population so be alert for animals straying onto the highway particularly in wooded, rural areas.

See more on the USA road rules you need to know.