Boston to Philadelphia is the only US sports road trip you can genuinely do without a car. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor links three of the country's biggest sports cities, and every stadium on the route is reachable on public transport once you arrive.
For visitors from Europe, this is the most familiar-feeling trip in the United States — dense cities, real trains, walkable centres.
Boston (Gillette Stadium)
Gillette Stadium is in Foxborough, Massachusetts — about 30 miles southwest of downtown Boston.
Getting there: Fly into Boston Logan (BOS). Tickets are available only through the MBTA mTicket app (you must have a match ticket to buy a train ticket). Tickets go on sale April 8, 2026 and are limited, so buy early. Rideshare and rental cars are alternatives. Search flights to Boston.
Where to stay: Stay in Boston proper and take the event train to Foxborough on game day. Hotels in Providence, RI are significantly cheaper — fans staying there can take Amtrak or the Providence/Stoughton commuter rail to South Station, then transfer to the event train (separate fares). Search hotels in Boston | Search hotels in Providence.
Don't miss: The Patriot Place complex surrounding Gillette has restaurants and bars that will be buzzing on game days. Spend your off days in downtown Boston — Fenway Park, the Freedom Trail, seafood on the waterfront.
New York (MetLife Stadium)
The stadium sits across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The best transit option is the NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line from Secaucus Junction — a quick 10-minute ride, with Secaucus connecting to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, making the full trip from central New York City around 40-50 minutes door to gate. NJ Transit buses also run from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on game days.
Getting there from Boston: Amtrak Acela from South Station to Penn Station takes 3.5 hours ($50-100). Driving is 215 miles via I-95 (4-5 hours with Connecticut traffic). Flying BOS to EWR is 75 minutes but by the time you factor in airport logistics, the train wins. Search flights to New York.
Where to stay: Manhattan hotels are expensive but put you in the center of the action. For value, look at hotels in Jersey City or Secaucus — both are closer to the stadium and half the price. Search hotels near MetLife Stadium.
Don't miss: The walk from the NJ Transit train station to the stadium on game day. The atmosphere in the parking lots and concourse will be unlike anything American sports has seen.
Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
Lincoln Financial Field sits in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex alongside Citizens Bank Park and the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Getting there from New York: Amtrak from Penn Station to 30th Street Station takes 75 minutes and costs $30-60. It's the best option — no traffic, no parking, city center to city center. Driving is 95 miles via the NJ Turnpike (2 hours with traffic). Search flights to Philadelphia.
Where to stay: Center City hotels put you within a short subway ride of the stadium (Broad Street Line, NRG Station — sometimes listed as Pattison). The Navy Yard area is closer but has fewer options. Search hotels in Philadelphia.
Don't miss: Reading Terminal Market for a pre-game cheesesteak. It's a 15-minute subway ride from the stadium and one of the best food halls in the country.
Getting Between Cities
| Leg | Distance | Best Option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston → New York | 215 mi | Amtrak Acela | 3.5 hrs | $50-100 |
| New York → Philadelphia | 95 mi | Amtrak | 75 min | $30-60 |
| Boston → Philadelphia (direct) | 305 mi | Flight (BOS→PHL) | 75 min | $60-150 |
Rental car: A car is useful for the Boston/Foxborough leg since Gillette Stadium lacks rail access, but unnecessary for New York and Philadelphia (both have excellent transit). Consider renting a car in Boston, driving to Foxborough for the game, then dropping it in Manhattan before taking the train to Philly.
Open-jaw flights: If you're flying in from outside the region, book an open-jaw ticket — fly into Boston (BOS), fly home from Philadelphia (PHL). This follows the natural south-bound route with zero backtracking.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1-2: Boston. Arrive at Logan. Explore downtown — Fenway Park, the Freedom Trail, seafood on the waterfront.
Day 3: Game day at Gillette Stadium. Take the MBTA event train from South Station to Foxborough. Soak in the Patriot Place atmosphere.
Day 4: Train to New York. Take the 3.5-hour Acela from South Station to Penn Station. Check into Manhattan or Jersey City.
** Attend a match at MetLife Stadium.
Day 8: Train to Philadelphia. 75 minutes on Amtrak. Check into a Center City hotel.
Day 9-10: Philadelphia. Game day at Lincoln Financial Field. Explore Old City, South Street, Reading Terminal Market.
Day 11: Fly home from PHL.
This itinerary covers 3 stadiums in 11 days with a clean south-bound route and no backtracking. Adjust timing based on which game days fall at each venue.