School Trips to Philadelphia
Philadelphia school trips connect Independence Hall and the founding documents with Black community history, science museums, art, and university life.
Choose a four-day founding-history trip with group pricing, a six-day Philadelphia program at $2,410 per student, or a six- to seven-day multi-city route from $2,790–$3,255 per student. Airfare is excluded.
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- $2,410–$3,255
- per student for 6–7 days
- 4–7 days
- six programs, including a four-day group quote
- Custom school trips
- dates and curriculum planned with your school
- 1 free teacher place
- per 8 paying students
- 321 schools
- partners since 2012, each counted once
Philadelphia School Travel Itineraries
Stay in Philadelphia for founding history, freedom and justice, science, or arts and culture. Choose Philadelphia–DC for government in action, or the three-city college route for admissions and campus fit. Each six-day city program includes arrival, four full learning days, and departure.
Compare all six itineraries side by side
| Decision factor | Independence Hall and the Founding Documents | Philadelphia–DC: Founding Ideals and Government Today | Northeast College Exploration | Philadelphia: Freedom, Justice and American Change | Philadelphia: Science, Innovation and the American Experiment | Philadelphia: Arts, Architecture and Global Culture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4 days | 6 days | 7 days | 6 days | 6 days | 6 days |
| Per-student price | Request pricing per student; excluding airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance | From $2,790 per student; excluding airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance | From $3,255 per student; excluding airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance | $2,410 per student; excluding airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance | $2,410 per student; excluding airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance | $2,410 per student; excluding airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance |
| Learning focus | Social Studies · US History | Social Studies · US History | College Exploration · College Access | US History · Civil Rights | STEM · Archaeology | Visual Arts · Cultural History |
| Route | PHL · Philadelphia 3 nights · PHL | PHL · Philadelphia 2 nights · Washington DC 3 nights · DC airport | BOS · Boston 2 nights · NYC 2 nights · Philadelphia 2 nights · PHL | PHL · Philadelphia 5 nights · PHL | PHL · Philadelphia 5 nights · PHL | PHL · Philadelphia 5 nights · PHL |
| Program focus | Two full days in Old City and the Constitution Center | Philadelphia and Washington DC linked by one direct coach transfer | Four campus appointments and counselor-led college-fit work | Founding history, Black community leadership, and criminal justice | Science, evidence, inventions, and archaeology | Art, architecture, literature, and cultural identity |
| Best for | Grades 6–12; spring or fall; dates aligned to timed admissions. | Dates and grade fit confirmed with school; avoid peak-demand dates where possible. | Grades 9–12; school term with campuses in session. Sunday arrival places campus visits on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; group appointments require confirmation. | Grades 6–12. A Tuesday arrival puts school and appointment visits on weekdays; museum closures require the disclosed access plan. | Grades 6–12; Science History Institute recommends guided tours for ages 12–13 and older. A Sunday arrival aligns school visits with museum weekdays. Teachers preview anatomical collections. | Grades 6–12. A Wednesday arrival aligns the art museums, Mummers Museum, and weekend visits. Performances are optional and date-dependent. |
Independence Hall and the Founding Documents
Four days in Philadelphia giving two full days to the founding documents in the district where they were written, with no Gettysburg or Washington commute attached.
Choose this programYour four-day itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival and orientation
The group arrives at the agreed gateway, transfers in, and settles, with nothing timed depending on the arrival.
MorningArrive at the agreed Philadelphia gateway; included breakfast/lunch if arrival timing requires them. No essential admission depends on an early arrival.AfternoonPrivate group transfer, hotel check-in, and a short local orientation as timing permits.EveningIncluded dinner, expectations, room checks, and early rest.- Route
- The agreed Philadelphia gateway to the hotel, by private group transfer.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Philadelphia; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- All meals required by the arrival and departure timing are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Low effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 2
Founding promises
The founding promises read in one compact district in the morning, then argued over in the afternoon.
MorningReserved Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, and President’s House interpretation in one compact district, allowing screening.AfternoonLunch; National Constitution Center visit with an evidence-based constitutional hearing.EveningDinner and Old City reflection.- Route
- Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the President's House, then the National Constitution Center, on foot.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Philadelphia; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 3
Who shaped the Revolution?
The Revolution told through people who disagreed about it, then set against the rights claimed long afterwards.
MorningMuseum of the American Revolution visit focused on differing participants and sources.AfternoonLunch; a guided Old City/Franklin Court walk followed by a classroom activity comparing founding principles with later demands for rights.EveningFarewell dinner and student argument presentations.- Route
- The Museum of the American Revolution, then Old City and Franklin Court on foot.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Philadelphia; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 4
Synthesis and departure
A final takeaway over breakfast, then the gateway transfer on the flight's timing.
MorningBreakfast, pack, and share a final takeaway; no essential timed visit.AfternoonIncluded gateway transfer and lunch/packed meal as required by flight timing.EveningDeparture; dinner provided if still on program. No overnight.- Route
- The Philadelphia hotel to the agreed gateway, by private group transfer.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- None on program: the group departs on day 4.
- Meals
- All meals required by the arrival and departure timing are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Low effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
Philadelphia–DC: Founding Ideals and Government Today
Six days, two nights in Philadelphia and three in Washington DC joined by one direct coach transfer, reading the founding documents where they were written and then arguing them in a facilitated committee hearing.
Choose this program- Philadelphia2 nights
- Washington DC3 nights
Your six-day itinerary
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Day 1
Philadelphia
The group lands, checks in, and walks Old City if the timing allows, with no museum riding on the arrival.
MorningArrive PHL, group airport transfer, hotel check-in, and orientation. Short Old City walk if timing allows; dinner.AfternoonNo essential museum on arrival. Arrival breakfast/lunch are funded when the arrival schedule requires them.EveningNotice your starting point; Five-minute private note: name a right you take for granted and a question about how it became enforceable. Sharing is optional.- Route
- PHL to the Philadelphia hotel, then Old City on foot if time permits.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Philadelphia; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- All meals required by the arrival and departure timing are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 2
Founding promises and exclusions
The founding documents in one compact district, then one substantial museum and a hearing rather than a museum crawl.
MorningReserve Independence Hall access, allow screening, and visit Liberty Bell/President’s House interpretation within the same district. Lunch and rest.AfternoonPrebook a focused National Constitution Center visit and student constitutional hearing; one substantial museum. Several is not part of the program.EveningTest an interpretation; After Independence-area interpretation and Constitution Center learning, pairs connect one source to a claim and identify whose experience that source cannot establish. Allow 15 minutes, then rest.- Route
- Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the President's House, then the National Constitution Center, on foot.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Philadelphia; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 3
From founding to governing
A travel day given its own space, so the group arrives in Washington rested rather than straight into a site.
MorningBreakfast, check-out, and direct private coach to DC. Allow approximately 4–5 hours door-to-door with lunch/rest and traffic buffer (planning allowance).AfternoonHotel check-in, rest, and dinner. A short Lincoln Memorial visit only if time/traffic permits; it can move to Day 5.EveningCarry a question; On the transfer, optional paired conversation: what would you now ask a lawmaker? No compulsory bus lecture or worksheet.- Route
- Philadelphia to Washington DC by direct private coach, with a lunch and rest stop.
- Travel
- Private intercity coach
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Washington DC; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 4
How government makes decisions
How a decision actually gets made, first at the Capitol and then in a simulated hearing run on the group's own evidence.
MorningReserved Capitol Visitor Center tour or explicitly disclosed substitute focused on Congress. Lunch; one 2-hour Smithsonian American History focus tied to citizenship.AfternoonLater, paid facilitator runs a balanced committee-hearing simulation based on evidence collected in Philadelphia; no promised meeting with an elected official. Dinner.EveningArgue, listen, amend; Use 60–75 minutes for a committee hearing on an age-appropriate current civic question. Students work with disclosed evidence and ordinary policy roles. Impersonations of oppressed groups is not part of the program.- Route
- The Capitol Visitor Center, the Smithsonian American History museum, then the hotel hearing room.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Washington DC; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 5
Citizenship, sacrifice, and public memory
A morning at Arlington and a selected memorial walk, then teams revise a proposal or explain why it stands.
MorningMorning Arlington visit with respectful interpretation and realistic walking/access arrangements. Lunch; focused Lincoln–Vietnam–Korean memorial walk with breaks, limited to selected sites.AfternoonRest, then teams present and revise a civic proposal; farewell dinner. No Mount Vernon, Gettysburg, or Annapolis detour.EveningRevisit what the hearing missed; After selected memorials, use 25 minutes to revise one proposal or explain why it stands. Distinguish respectful remembrance from evidence for a specific policy.- Route
- Arlington, then the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean memorials on foot, with breaks.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Washington DC; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 6
Departure
Breakfast, check-out, and the gateway transfer, with nothing required of the last morning.
MorningBreakfast, check-out, and gateway transfer.AfternoonNo required program content on departure; exact DC gateway and flight window contractually specified. Departure lunch/dinner are funded when needed.EveningLeave with an unresolved question; Private note or voice memo: what changed, what did not, and what would you need to learn next? No required airport presentation.- Route
- The Washington hotel to the contracted DC gateway, by private group transfer.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- None on program: the group departs on day 6.
- Meals
- All meals required by the arrival and departure timing are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Low effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
Northeast College Exploration
Four campus appointments across public and private institutions, with counselor-led affordability and fit work. Two nights per city, one direction, and an open-jaw departure give Philadelphia substantive inclusion without adding a return drive.
Choose this program- Boston2 nights
- New York City2 nights
- Philadelphia2 nights
Your seven-day itinerary
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Day 1
Boston arrival and orientation
The group arrives at the agreed Boston gateway, transfers in, and settles, with nothing timed depending on the arrival.
MorningArrive at the agreed Boston gateway; included breakfast/lunch if arrival timing requires them. No essential admission depends on an early arrival.AfternoonPrivate group transfer, hotel check-in, and a short local orientation as timing permits.EveningIncluded dinner, expectations, room checks, and early rest.- Route
- The agreed Boston gateway to the hotel, by private group transfer.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Boston; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- All meals required by the arrival and departure timing are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Low effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 2
Public pathways and college fit
A public university in the morning and what it actually costs in the afternoon.
MorningBreakfast; prearranged UMass Boston or comparable public-university group visit.AfternoonLunch; counselor-led workshop on net price, academic support, and choosing a college; Boston waterfront downtime.EveningDinner; prepare questions for a contrasting institution.- Route
- The Boston hotel to UMass Boston or a comparable campus, then the waterfront on foot.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Boston; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 3
Private university and transfer to New York
A private university before lunch, then a long coach leg south with nothing booked at the other end.
MorningBreakfast; prearranged Northeastern or comparable private-university visit, finishing before lunch.AfternoonLunch, then private coach to NYC; allow roughly five to six hours including a break and traffic. No afternoon admission.EveningDinner and hotel check-in; short reflection only.- Route
- A Boston private campus, then Boston to New York City by intercity coach.
- Travel
- Private intercity coach
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in New York City; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 4
An urban campus and cultural life
An urban campus with no walls around it, and an evening that belongs to the city rather than the college list.
MorningBreakfast; prearranged NYU or comparable urban private-campus session; public orientation substituted explicitly if institutional access is unavailable.AfternoonLunch; compare campus support and student life, then Central Park downtime and personal college notes.EveningEarly dinner and one included Broadway performance.- Route
- The New York hotel to NYU or a comparable urban campus, then Central Park and a Broadway theater.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in New York City; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 5
Move to Philadelphia, connect city and campus
An unhurried move to Philadelphia, with the city introduced and no campus appointment squeezed onto a transfer day.
MorningBreakfast; unhurried departure for Philadelphia, allowing three hours with traffic and a break.AfternoonLunch; guided compact Old City orientation, then counselor-led financial-aid questions and time to rest. No campus appointment on the transfer day.EveningDinner; prepare questions about a large public research university.- Route
- New York City to Philadelphia by coach, then a compact Old City orientation on foot.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Philadelphia; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 6
Public research university and a balanced shortlist
A large public research university, then students build a shortlist that balances cost, support, and academics.
MorningBreakfast; prearranged Temple or comparable public research-university group visit.AfternoonLunch; students build a balanced exploratory shortlist using affordability, support, and academic criteria. A facilitated discussion compares the four institutions without implying admissions advantage.EveningFarewell dinner and Rustic Ties.- Route
- The Philadelphia hotel to Temple or a comparable campus, by charter transport and on foot.
- Travel
- Charter transport and on foot
- Overnight
- Program-approved lodging in Philadelphia; twin student rooms, teacher singles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
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Day 7
One takeaway over breakfast, then home
One decision-making takeaway over breakfast, then the transfer with nothing timed to catch.
MorningBreakfast, pack, and share one decision-making takeaway; no essential timed admission.AfternoonIncluded PHL gateway transfer and lunch or packed meal as departure timing requires.EveningDinner if still on program; program ends.- Route
- The Philadelphia hotel to PHL, by private group transfer.
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- None on program: the group departs on day 7.
- Meals
- All meals required by the arrival and departure timing are included, with drinking water.
- Physical demand
- Low effort, with breaks and accessible routing agreed before booking.
Philadelphia: Freedom, Justice and American Change
Six days based in Philadelphia connect the Declaration and Constitution with the Revolution, Black community leadership, and changing ideas about justice. Four full learning days leave time for museum evidence, neighborhood walks, and student discussion.
Choose this programYour six-day itinerary
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Day 1
Tuesday: arrive in Philadelphia
Settle into one Philadelphia base for five nights.
MorningTravel to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or the agreed local gateway. Arrival day includes travel time; no essential museum visit depends on an early flight.AfternoonIncluded group transfer, hotel check-in, and a short neighborhood orientation as arrival timing permits.EveningIncluded dinner, group expectations, and rest.- Route
- Philadelphia; PHL gateway
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Meals follow arrival timing. Transportation to and from the destination is excluded.
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Day 2
Wednesday: founding promises and their limits
Read the founding documents against the places and people they governed.
MorningIndependence National Historical Park: timed Independence Hall tour, Liberty Bell Center, and the President’s House interpretation of the people enslaved in George Washington’s household. Allow screening and walking time.AfternoonNational Constitution Center: Freedom Rising, Signers’ Hall, and a teacher-led reading of “We the People.” Use the Declaration of Independence (1776), Constitution (1787), and First Amendment to examine who held rights in the early republic.EveningStudents use evidence to propose a class constitution and explain whose voices it includes.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Independence Hall tour tickets and Constitution Center group admission must be confirmed. Commercial trip organizers use the public ticket system; the park’s direct-teacher ticket assistance is not an operator booking exemption.
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Day 3
Thursday: Revolution, work, and everyday lives
Compare a national founding story with evidence about ordinary Philadelphians.
MorningMuseum of the American Revolution: allow about 90 minutes for a school visit, including the presentation of George Washington’s original headquarters tent. Examine the experiences of soldiers, women, Black Americans, and Indigenous people.AfternoonAfter lunch, a reserved Betsy Ross House visit and an Elfreth’s Alley walk. Distinguish evidence from legend in the flag story and compare trades, homes, and public memory. Allow separate admission and neighborhood walking time.EveningA teacher-led evidence circle: whose experiences change the story told by the Declaration?- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Betsy Ross House group admission is timed. Elfreth’s Alley remains a residential street; entry to its museum houses is included only if separately confirmed.
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Day 4
Friday: Black community leadership and freedom
Follow institution-building, abolition, and the limits of emancipation.
MorningReserved Mother Bethel AME Church and Richard Allen Museum visit. Discuss Richard Allen, religious independence, and the work of Black community institutions; confirm the church appointment before fixing the day.AfternoonStudy the African American Museum in Philadelphia’s Audacious Freedom material and Virtual Campus with the teacher, focusing on Black Philadelphia, 1776–1876, abolition, and the Underground Railroad. Use an in-person school visit only after the museum confirms reopening and a reservation.EveningStudents connect one community action with a constitutional promise, using evidence rather than a role-play of enslavement.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- As checked September 16, 2026, the African American Museum is closed for an exhibition change after September 7, with reopening announced for later fall. The current plan uses its online resources; museum entry is not promised.
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Day 5
Saturday: punishment, public institutions, and civic change
Ask how institutions put changing ideas about rights into practice.
MorningEastern State Penitentiary: a reserved school group tour and self-guided exploration, with teacher preparation for incarceration and justice themes. Allow about two hours on site.AfternoonIncluded lunch at Reading Terminal Market with time to choose foods such as a cheesesteak or Pennsylvania Dutch pastry, subject to merchant hours and dietary needs. Continue to City Hall’s exterior to compare early national government with city government.EveningA student evidence discussion on prison reform, followed by a final reflection on continuity and change.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Reading Terminal Market is a daytime lunch stop, not a late dinner venue. Eastern State workshops have separate grade, capacity, and start-date requirements; the core plan is the group tour.
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Day 6
Sunday: bring the evidence together and departure
Leave time for the airport transfer and the journey home.
MorningBreakfast, a short student reflection, and hotel check-out. No timed admission is scheduled on departure day.AfternoonIncluded transfer to PHL or the agreed local gateway. Lunch or a packed meal follows departure timing.EveningDinner if still on program; the program ends at the agreed gateway.- Route
- Philadelphia; PHL gateway
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- No overnight on program after departure.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Meals follow departure timing. No overnight lodging is included after Day 6.
Philadelphia: Science, Innovation and the American Experiment
Six days in Philadelphia link hands-on science with archaeology, medicine, and Benjamin Franklin’s print culture. Students test explanations with exhibits and artifacts, then apply engineering and robotics ideas in a teacher-led design activity.
Choose this programYour six-day itinerary
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Day 1
Sunday: arrive in Philadelphia
Settle into one Philadelphia base for five nights.
MorningTravel to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or the agreed local gateway. Arrival day includes travel time; no essential museum visit depends on an early flight.AfternoonIncluded group transfer, hotel check-in, and a short neighborhood orientation as arrival timing permits.EveningIncluded dinner, group expectations, and rest.- Route
- Philadelphia; PHL gateway
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Meals follow arrival timing. Transportation to and from the destination is excluded.
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Day 2
Monday: test ideas at The Franklin Institute
Give the science museum a full day rather than fitting it around distant sites.
MorningThe Franklin Institute: Body Odyssey and its Giant Heart connect anatomy with measurement and body systems. Students record observations and test predictions through the interactive galleries.AfternoonIncluded lunch, further physics, electricity and space exhibits, and a Fels Planetarium show when the operating schedule permits. Allow five hours including the meal and breaks; confirm show access with the group booking.EveningStudents explain one result that surprised them and propose a test that could distinguish competing explanations.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Reserve in advance; the museum recommends six weeks and requires one adult age 21+ per ten youth. Planetarium hours can change.
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Day 3
Tuesday: artifacts, archaeology, and university ideas
Use objects as evidence, then compare archaeological inference with modern design.
MorningPenn Museum: a 60-minute gallery tour plus a separately reserved, grade-appropriate archaeology workshop. Request an artifact-analysis activity such as Digging Up the Roman World for grades 4–8 or Mythology and Archaeology for grades 4–12; allow two to three hours with breaks.AfternoonLunch in University City and a self-guided outdoor walk at the University of Pennsylvania. The teacher leads an engineering and robotics design challenge using a paper prototype and explicit constraints; no laboratory entry or researcher meeting is included.EveningIncluded University City dinner and Program Leader-led team games, followed by a short explanation of each design.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Museum workshops use their published classroom format, not an active archaeological excavation. Penn’s official admissions group visits require eligible school requests for 15–50 students in grades 9–12; the core campus visit is outdoors.
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Day 4
Wednesday: natural history and medical evidence
Compare the evidence preserved by natural-history and medical collections.
MorningAcademy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University: dinosaurs, fossils, and dioramas, with the available school-day auditorium program. Allow at least two hours including independent gallery study.AfternoonAfter lunch, visit the Mütter Museum. A reserved school group tour can focus on anatomy, medical history, and the ethics of interpreting human remains. Allow about 90 minutes including the 45-minute guided component if confirmed.EveningA short daylight Schuylkill Banks walk, weather permitting, connects the river corridor with urban infrastructure. Students compare how the two museums explain uncertainty.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Academy school field trips run Wednesday–Friday during the school year. Teachers review the Mütter collections and student readiness before booking; a different afternoon activity changes the quote.
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Day 5
Thursday: Benjamin Franklin, printing, and chemistry
Follow an idea from public argument to material experiment.
MorningFranklin Court: the Benjamin Franklin Museum and the Printing Office demonstration, subject to the daily program. Students connect Benjamin Franklin’s experiments and publishing work with public debate. Allow two hours and a lunch break.AfternoonScience History Institute: a reserved one-hour school group tour about chemistry and the materials of everyday life. Continue with a teacher-led evidence activity on how inventions change civic life.EveningCompare the constitutional idea of a rule that can be amended with a scientific explanation that can be tested. Students identify both the usefulness and limits of that analogy.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- The Printing Office currently operates Thursday–Monday. Science History Institute recommends guided tours for ages 12–13 and older. School tours are Wednesday–Friday and require advance confirmation; groups over 12 must reserve at least two weeks ahead. Allow one adult per eight students; larger groups split into guide groups of about 20–25.
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Day 6
Friday: share the investigation and departure
Leave time for the airport transfer and the journey home.
MorningBreakfast, a short student reflection, and hotel check-out. No timed admission is scheduled on departure day.AfternoonIncluded transfer to PHL or the agreed local gateway. Lunch or a packed meal follows departure timing.EveningDinner if still on program; the program ends at the agreed gateway.- Route
- Philadelphia; PHL gateway
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- No overnight on program after departure.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Meals follow departure timing. No overnight lodging is included after Day 6.
Philadelphia: Arts, Architecture and Global Culture
Six days based in Philadelphia connect art and architecture with immigration, literature, and the city’s performance traditions. Four full days combine careful looking in museums with public art and neighborhood history.
Choose this programYour six-day itinerary
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Day 1
Wednesday: arrive in Philadelphia
Settle into one Philadelphia base for five nights.
MorningTravel to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or the agreed local gateway. Arrival day includes travel time; no essential museum visit depends on an early flight.AfternoonIncluded group transfer, hotel check-in, and a short neighborhood orientation as arrival timing permits.EveningIncluded dinner, group expectations, and rest.- Route
- Philadelphia; PHL gateway
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Meals follow arrival timing. Transportation to and from the destination is excluded.
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Day 2
Thursday: architecture, literature, and neighborhood stories
Examine how a building, a story, and a neighborhood express ideas about identity.
MorningEastern State Penitentiary: a reserved group visit focused on prison architecture and the ideas of punishment and reform. Allow two hours including the guide and exploration.AfternoonAfter lunch, travel to the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site for an exterior stop and teacher-led reading of a short, age-appropriate Poe text. Compare 19th-century literary atmosphere with the spaces studied that morning.EveningIncluded dinner in Chinatown, with a short orientation to the neighborhood and respectful discussion of migration, work, and cultural continuity.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- The Poe house is closed for a utility upgrade as checked September 16, 2026. The plan includes exterior interpretation only; interior access requires a confirmed reopening.
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Day 3
Friday: art, sculpture, and the Parkway
Practice close looking across painting, sculpture, and public space.
MorningPhiladelphia Museum of Art: a reserved K–12 gallery visit with discussion and sketching. Allow two to three hours. Outside, interpret the Rocky Steps as film imagery and a public gathering place.AfternoonLunch, then the Rodin Museum and its sculpture garden. Walk a manageable section of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and compare the two museums’ architecture; a river overlook can add context to Boathouse Row.EveningStudents choose a work of art and explain how its materials, form, and setting affect its meaning.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Friday fits both museums’ published hours: the Philadelphia Museum of Art is closed Tuesday–Wednesday, and Rodin is closed Tuesday–Thursday. School/group bookings remain separate.
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Day 4
Saturday: performance traditions and the port city
Connect Philadelphia’s neighborhood traditions with its waterfront economy.
MorningMummers Museum: a reserved group visit to examine costumes, performance, and civic identity. Allow 60–90 minutes within its current Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. hours.AfternoonLunch and the Independence Seaport Museum, followed by a Penn’s Landing waterfront walk. Use the galleries to investigate river trade and maritime life. A knot-tying or sailors’ life lesson can be requested as a separately confirmed education session.EveningA student sketchbook or short performance response brings together an object, a river story, and a neighborhood tradition.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Seaport group admission is arranged in advance. The museum building is accessible; historic ships are not. Ship boarding is not a required activity.
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Day 5
Sunday: migration, identity, and public art
Compare stories told inside a museum with stories painted into the city.
MorningThe Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: a reserved 90-minute visit focused on immigration, religious freedom, and American identity. Choose the school program with the museum in advance.AfternoonLunch and a private Mural Arts Philadelphia walking tour, subject to availability. Allow about 90 minutes and up to 1.5 miles on the selected route; examine how artists and communities represent place and memory.EveningStudents curate a small set of their own sketches and evidence notes to explain whose stories are visible in Philadelphia.- Route
- Philadelphia, with a single hotel base.
- Travel
- Local coach and walking
- Overnight
- Program-approved Philadelphia lodging; individual student beds and private teacher rooms.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Moderate effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Weitzman school bookings require advance confirmation; allow at least one month, preferably six weeks. Mural Arts requests at least 14 days for private tours, and its standard walking route has no restroom stop. A painting workshop is an extra request, not included service work.
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Day 6
Monday: present the city through art and departure
Leave time for the airport transfer and the journey home.
MorningBreakfast, a short student reflection, and hotel check-out. No timed admission is scheduled on departure day.AfternoonIncluded transfer to PHL or the agreed local gateway. Lunch or a packed meal follows departure timing.EveningDinner if still on program; the program ends at the agreed gateway.- Route
- Philadelphia; PHL gateway
- Travel
- Private group transfer
- Overnight
- No overnight on program after departure.
- Meals
- Meals and drinking water are included while on program; arrival and departure meals follow travel timing.
- Physical demand
- Low effort; walking and support requirements reviewed before booking.
- Access and timing
- Meals follow departure timing. No overnight lodging is included after Day 6.
Airports and rooming
- Airports
- Philadelphia-only trips use PHL. Philadelphia–DC arrives at PHL and leaves from an agreed Washington-area airport. College Exploration arrives at BOS and leaves from PHL.
- Students
- Individual beds in shared, gender-separated rooms.
- Teachers
- Private rooms.
How much does a school trip to Philadelphia cost?
Budget $2,410 per student for the six-day Philadelphia freedom, science, or arts programs. The six-day Philadelphia–DC route starts at $2,790 per student, and seven-day Northeast College Exploration starts at $3,255. The four-day founding-history trip is quoted for your group.
Program Tuition covers lodging, every meal, ground transport, activities, guides, and entrance fees, with one complimentary teacher place per eight paying students.
$2,410
per student for a six-day Philadelphia-only route, excluding airfare.
4 to 7 days
program length across all six itineraries.
Group quote
every school receives its own, built on dates, group size, and route.
| Included | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Travel | Every program night's lodging, all meals and drinking water, airport transfers, coach transport throughout, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees. |
| Staff and support | At least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, pre-departure planning, and school documentation. |
| Community donations | Required by a service project, paid by Rustic Pathways and never collected from students. |
| Chaperones | One complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students. Chaperone airfare and insurance are separate. |
Not included: Transportation to and from the destination, travel insurance, medical insurance, and personal spending.
| Effect | Factor |
|---|---|
| raises | Peak school-trip weeks and holiday dates |
| raises | Named-experience bookings and paid facilitation |
| raises | Upgraded lodging |
| raises | Extra chaperones beyond the complimentary place |
| lowers | More students in the group means fixed costs split more ways. |
| raises | Shorter trips cost more per day, since fixed costs spread across fewer days. |
Payment and cancellation
Schools can pay as a group, or families can enroll individually. Eligible group travelers enrolling more than 90 days before departure can use monthly installments after the deposit, with the first installment due 14 days later. Group cancellations within 24 hours of enrollment receive a full refund; later refunds depend on timing, deposits, and ticketed airfare. Review the current Group Travel payment and cancellation terms before enrolling.
What shapes a school trip to Philadelphia?
A Philadelphia school trip is shaped by your curriculum, reserved visits, and your walking preference. Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell can anchor a history and civics route; the Franklin Institute adds hands-on science.
Tell Rustic Pathways about the learning focus, then we'll work together to populate the itinerary.
What do students learn on a Philadelphia school trip?
Students on a Philadelphia school trip learn how American history, government, and civic rights developed while exploring science, innovation, art, and cultural identity. They connect founding documents and historic events with Black history, civil rights, archaeology, architecture, and contemporary civic life.
History and civic life
Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the President’s House connect founding promises with rights and exclusions. The freedom route adds Black community history and justice; Philadelphia–DC takes collected evidence into a committee-hearing simulation.
Science and college exploration
The Franklin Institute and Penn Museum connect experiments, observation, and artifact interpretation. Northeast College Exploration compares public and private universities through four campus appointments and counselor-led work on affordability and fit.
Arts and cultural identity
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, and Mural Arts develop close looking and visual interpretation. Literature, Jewish American history, and waterfront collections connect creative work with migration, memory, and civic identity.
What makes Rustic Pathways educational trips different?
A Rustic Pathways school trip is one private group on your school's own dates, one bed per student, and an itinerary built to your curriculum.
- 01No mixed groups. Just your school
- 02One student, one bed
- 03Your school picks the dates
- 04Monthly payment plans available
- 05No tipping; Rustic Pathways Program Tuition includes community donations
- 06Aligned to your curriculum
How is safety managed on a school trip to Philadelphia?
Program Leaders manage local operations and safety procedures alongside school chaperones. Across 13 years of published incident data from every Rustic Pathways program worldwide, 87% of reports were GREEN, the minor tier where the group stays intact.
What the team plans for
Walking days
A stated effort level on every day, with seated breaks and a shorter alternate arranged in planning
Group movement
Daylight routes with the group kept together and a named meeting point on every leg
Road transfers
Coach legs between the gateway and the sites, built with rest stops
Reserved sessions
Museum, campus, and site sessions are booked in advance; any substitute is disclosed in writing before sale
Weather and exposure
Outdoor sections carry a named indoor alternate, and layers are specified on the packing list
Controls built into every trip
Written risk plan. A score above 5 requires new controls, reassessment, or cancellation.
Two-Deep Leadership. A single staff member is never alone with students, and at least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, support each School Group Travel trip.
Assessed activity vendors. Every named vendor is reviewed before use, every one to two years, and on site when high risk.
Medical readiness. Dr. William R. Smith oversees medical planning and emergency-response protocols as Medical Director.
Is Rustic Pathways the right partner for your school trip to Philadelphia?
Rustic Pathways runs private school trips to Philadelphia on your dates, built around your curriculum. Your students travel only with their own teachers and classmates, never with another school's group.
Individual students can join United States teen travel programs instead.
A strong fit
- You want one private group with your dates and your teachers.
- You can travel for 4 to 7 days.
- You have 10 or more students.
- Your curriculum fits founding history, civil rights, STEM, arts, or college exploration.
Talk with us first
- A student has significant mobility, medical, sensory, mental-health, dietary, or religious support needs.
- You have fewer than 10 students.
- A student needs shorter walking routes or step-free access; historic buildings and ships have different access limits.
- You need a specific workshop, performance, or campus appointment; availability and school eligibility must be confirmed.
Probably not a fit
- You are an individual student or parent looking for open enrollment teen travel programs in the United States.
- You want your group merged with another school.
- You want a fixed-date catalog departure rather than your own group on your own dates.
Questions about school trips to Philadelphia
How much should students budget for a Philadelphia school trip?
Students should budget $2,410 each for the six-day Philadelphia-only routes; adding Washington starts at $2,790, while seven-day college exploration starts at $3,255. The four-day founding-history route needs a separate quote. Airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance are extra.
When is the best time for a school trip to Philadelphia?
The best time for a school trip to Philadelphia is April–May or September–October, when milder weather suits Philadelphia walks. Reserve timed admissions early for spring school visits, and schedule college exploration while campuses are in session. Orchestra visits depend on published rehearsal and school-concert dates.
Have a question before you ask for a proposal?
Patrick Ziemnik answers Philadelphia school-trip questions with the school travel team.
Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
Start with your travel window
Start your Philadelphia trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and customized trip options within 48 hours.
Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com
Need approval or funding first?
Certificate of insurance, risk management plans, and fundraising templates for families, on request.
Destinations related to Philadelphia
United StatesBrowse all school trip destinations- Rustic Pathways has operated student travel since 1983. Recent industry recognition:
- 2026 GoAbroad Innovation AwardsInnovation in Adventure-Based Programming · Global Adventure Learning Model
- 2025 International Travel AwardsBest Group Tour Operator
- 2024 Skift IDEA AwardsIndustry Innovators – Tour Operators
- 4x WYSETC Best Youth Tour Operator2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- BBB A+ RatingBetter Business Bureau profile
- NESA Affiliate OrganizationNear East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools
- 2025 World Travel AwardsUnited States’ Leading Tour Operator