Columbus to Philadelphia drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Columbus to Philadelphia by car is 469 miles, with a 7h6m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Columbus to Philadelphia drive are Cambridge OH, Pittsburgh and the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Planning a Columbus to Philadelphia road trip itinerary
The Columbus to Philadelphia drive takes you from the capital of Ohio to perhaps America’s most history-drenched city in Pennsylvania.
In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.
Key attractions in Philadelphia include the Museum of the American Revolution, the Independence Seaport Museum and the Penn Museum. For great Philadelphia tour options, try the Old City historic walking tour, a night tour exploring the city’s dark side or an It’s Always Sunny-themed tour of South Philadelphia.
- To hunt down affordable Philadelphia accommodation deals, head here.
Columbus to Philadelphia distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Columbus to Philadelphia is 469 miles. That makes for a driving time of approximately seven hours and six minutes. The quickest route is along the I-70.
The best stops to add to a Columbus to Philadelphia road trip itinerary are Cambridge OH, Pittsburgh and the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Best stops between Columbus and Philadelphia: Cambridge, Ohio
Cambridge is the gateway to Salt Fork State Park, but it has a few attractions of its own. Converted railway line, the Great Guernsey Trail, stretches for seven miles and is a good bet for wildlife spotting.
Dickens Victorian Village, meanwhile, is a rather hokey take on 1850s England – it comes to life with costumed volunteers in November and December.
Perhaps the highlight, however, is the National Museum of Cambridge Glass, which houses more than 10,000 pieces made by the Cambridge Glass Company. At one point, the company was nationally famous for its coloured glassware.
Columbus to Philadelphia road trip attractions: Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania is a monstrously underrated city, with a series of stellar attractions. Get great views from the top of the Duquesne Incline, enjoy the globally-themed rooms at the unmissable Cathedral of Learning and become immersed in pop art at the Warhol Museum.
You can explore Pittsburgh with a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. Pittsburgh experiences include bike tours full of stories, guided whiskey-themed walks and craft beer sampling on a multi-brewery tour.
For Pittsburgh hotels with great reviews, try the Italian villa-style Priory Hotel or the often good value Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown.
- Find more stops along the Columbus to Pittsburgh drive.
Columbus to Philadelphia drive: Flight 93 National Memorial
The Flight 93 National Memorial pays tribute to the fourth plane that crashed on 9/11. This is the plane that was heading for the US Capitol Building, but the crew and passengers fought the hijackers until it crashed in a field.
The Flight 93 National Memorial is near the settlement of Shanksville. The Visitor Centre tells the story of what happened on board, while the 93ft-tall Tower of Voices plays 40 wind chimes, acting as the voices of the 40 passengers and crew.
- For more possible stops, see the guides to the Pittsburgh to Harrisburg drive and Harrisburg to Philadelphia drive.
More Columbus road trips
Akron to Columbus | Columbus OH to Ann Arbor | Columbus OH to Atlanta | Columbus to Buffalo | Canton OH to Columbus OH | Columbus OH to Chicago | Columbus to Cincinnati | Columbus to Cleveland | Dallas to Columbus | Dayton to Columbus | Columbus to Detroit | Columbus to Indianapolis | Lexington to Columbus | Columbus to Louisville | Nashville to Columbus | Columbus to Pittsburgh | St Louis to Columbus | Toledo to Columbus.
More Philadelphia road trips
Philadelphia to Baltimore | Boston to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Charlotte | Chicago to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Cincinnati | Cleveland to Philadelphia | Dallas to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Denver | Philadelphia to Detroit | Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale | Harrisburg to Philadelphia | Hartford to Philadelphia | Houston to Philadelphia | Indianapolis to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Myrtle Beach | New Haven to Philadelphia | New York City to Philadelphia | Pittsburgh to Philadelphia | Raleigh NC to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Richmond VA | St Louis to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Tampa | Philadelphia to Washington DC | Philadelphia to Wilmington NC.