$2.00 bus to Snyder for South Philly and airport workers
SEPTA Bus Route 37 is the cheap link between PHL’s D/E–F terminal area and Snyder station on the Broad Street Line, running about every 10–20 minutes from roughly 5am to 1am. Think of it as the airport worker bus that also happens to help budget travelers headed to South and Southwest Philly, not a Center City shuttle.
The route serves stops near Terminals D/E and F, but you may need to cross service roads or walk farther than you would to reach the Airport Line platforms under A-East and B. Factor in an extra 5–10 minutes of walking if you’re hauling bags between the D/E–F end of the loop and your gate.
Ride time runs 35–55 minutes from PHL to Snyder, depending heavily on traffic around the Platt Bridge and along Passyunk Avenue. Regulars on r/philadelphia say it feels noticeably slower than Regional Rail, especially during rush hour, but still beats paying for parking or a rideshare if you’re watching costs.
The cash price is higher, but with a SEPTA Key card the fare is a flat $2.00 for the bus, and a transfer to the Broad Street Line at Snyder adds a discounted second swipe. That two-seat ride gets you from the airport up and down Broad Street into North or South Philly neighborhoods for about the cost of a single coffee.
Headways are advertised at 10–20 minutes, yet riders report bunching where nothing shows for 20–25 minutes and then two buses pull up together. Locals check the SEPTA live bus tracker app before leaving Terminals D, E, or F and adjust their walk so they’re not just standing at the curb overlooking the inner roadway.
Expect crowding near shift changes when airport employees clock in or out, with standing room only and minimal space for full-size suitcases. Some workers even walk to an earlier stop outside the inner loop to catch a bus before it fills up winding around all six terminals: A-East, A-West, B, C, D, and F.
Step-by-step: taking SEPTA Route 37 from PHL
- 1. Land and check your terminal: Route 37 signs and stops sit closest to Terminals D/E and F along the lower-level roadway.
- 2. Load or tap a SEPTA Key card so your fare is $2.00 instead of the higher cash price; there are Key kiosks in the airport and at Snyder station.
- 3. Open SEPTA’s live bus tracker and look up Route 37 so you see if the next bus is 3 minutes or 23 minutes away before you step outside.
- 4. Walk to the posted 37 stop, which may require crossing one service road from the arrivals curb at D/E or F; allow 5 extra minutes for the walk.
- 5. Board at the front door, tap your Key once, and move toward the back, keeping larger bags out of the aisle because there are no luggage racks.
- 6. Ride 35–55 minutes to Snyder station, watching for Passyunk Avenue traffic and potential slowdowns near I‑95 and the Platt Bridge.
- 7. At Snyder, follow signs down to the Broad Street Line platforms for trains toward City Hall and North Philly or toward NRG Station in South Philly.
One last tip: if time matters more than the $2.00 savings and you’re heading to Center City, skip the 37 and take SEPTA’s Airport Line train instead.