How to travel from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, United States of America

The distance between Philadelphia and Los Angeles is around 2,596 miles (4,178km) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 8h 45m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Philadelphia to Los Angeles by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out Los AngelesPhiladelphia if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
1
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station then fly from New York JFK (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX).

  • Duration8h 45m
  • Flight time6h 25m
  • Typical cost
    $330
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Los Angeles.

  • Duration2 days 13h
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    $360
Operated by

Greyhound USA

3
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station then Chicago Union Station and then to Los Angeles.

  • Duration2 days 15h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    $425

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Los Angeles.

  • Duration1 day 19h
  • Distance2,710 miles (4,361km)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Philadelphia and Los Angeles

There are several options for getting from Philadelphia to Los Angeles by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train and then fly which costs around $330 and will take around 8h 45m.

The distance between Philadelphia and Los Angeles is around 2,596 miles (4,178km). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 2,388 miles (3,843km)

It takes around 8h 45m to get from Philadelphia and Los Angeles by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1 day 19h to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Philadelphia to Los Angeles is to take the train and then fly which takes around 8h 45m and will set you back approx $330.

The cheapest way to travel between Philadelphia and Los Angeles, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then fly which will typically cost around $330 for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Philadelphia and Los Angeles. It typically takes around 2 days 15h and departs once daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station and Chicago Union Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 2 days 15h.

Amtrak Acela Express, Amtrak Northeast Regional and Amtrak run train services between Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Trains depart once daily and will take around 2 days 15h, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Philadelphia and Los Angeles. It typically takes around 2 days 13h and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Philadelphia and Los Angeles with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 2 days 13h.

Greyhound USA run regular bus services between Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Buses run twice daily and take around 2 days 13h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. We recommend that you take the train to NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station then fly from New York JFK (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX). instead which will take 8h 45m.

The closest major airport to Los Angeles is Bob Hope Airport (BUR) (BUR) which is approximately 19km (12 miles) from Los Angeles. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (LAX) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) (SNA) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The distance is around 2,710 miles (4,361km) by road and it will take around 1 day 19h in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Philadelphia to Los Angeles is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 8h 45m and will usually cost around $330.

How do I get from Philadelphia to Los Angeles

Compare travel optionsbetween Philadelphia and Los Angeles

Transport options from Philadelphia to Los Angeles
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
8h 45m
$330
hourly4,178km (2,596 miles)
Bus
2 days 13h
$360
twice daily4,540km (2,821 miles)
Train + 1 similar
2 days 15h
$425
once daily5,269km (3,274 miles)
Train via Chicago Union Station2 days 21h
$370
6 times a week5,268km (3,273 miles)
Drive
1 day 19h
$265
on demand4,361km (2,710 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Philadelphia and Los Angeles

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Los Angeles

The following major airports near Los Angeles offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United States of America and internationally.

BUR
Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Domestic Airport
Distance
12 miles (19km) from Los Angeles
LAX
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
International Airport
Distance
12 miles (20km) from Los Angeles
SNA
John Wayne Airport (SNA)
International Airport
Distance
34 miles (54km) from Los Angeles