Getting Around the Area

Sure, Swat's a 330-acre arboretum, full of fine architecture and pristine natural surroundings.  It seems like you could explore the Crum for days, or just sit on Parrish Beach and soak in the beauty of campus for the rest of time.  But, at some point, you're bound to develop a bit of wanderlust; an inner desire to get off campus and to get off NOW.  When that point comes, and it's inevitable that it will, feel free to consult the following guide for escaping from Swat's loveable confines:

By Foot

Okay, so you're a car person - you wouldn't be seen going anywhere without four wheels.  Still, with Swat's restrictive parking policies, chances are that you may be separated from your precious motor vehicle for an indefinite period of time.  In this case, you should know that there are still many local places of interest easily accessible by foot.  Here's a map to orient you to the surrounding area.  Also, click on any specific location to get point-to-point directions. 

The nearest location is, of course, the Village of Swarthmore.  Just cross under the railroad tracks and you're in the heart of the business district.  The Ville is home to restaurants, hairstylists, gift/clothing stores, banks, a drug store, a florist, a hardware store, a public library, a small grocery store, a post office, and more.  For more information on individual shops, visit our Food and Services guides.  For a photo-map of the district, click here.

If you wander a bit further, you can visit other Swarthmore locations that aren't in the business district proper.  For instance, walking down Chester Rd. (the road that runs perpendicular to College Ave.) to the south (in the direction of PPR) will get you to a number of restaurants and businesses, including a pizzeria, a gourmet foods store, a fancy delicatessen, a CVS, a Goodwill outlet, and a dollar store.  These places can usually be reached in 5-10 minutes.

On the other hand, if you walk to the north on Chester Rd. (away from PPR), and continue past where it becomes Route 320, you'll run into the Baltimore Pike.  "The Pike," as it's referred to colloquially, is the main artery of Delaware County and connects to an incredible array of suburban chain restaurants and stores.  Its most accessible retail attraction is the Springfield Mall, home to more than 80 stores, but still pretty quaint as far as today's mega-malls go.  If you're willing to put in a bit more footwork, you can get to a number of other useful businesses, including Genuardi's (a local grocery store) and Target, as well as a number of restaurants.  Again, for more specific info, check out our Food and Services guides.  By foot, nearby Pike businesses are just 10-15 minutes away. 

By Bus

There is one SEPTA bus line that runs along Chester Rd., right past the College: #109.  You can catch the bus at the intersection of College Ave. and Chester Rd., as well as outside PPR.  If you take it south (going towards PPR), the bus will take you into nearby Chester, all the way to the Chester Transportation Center.  If you take it north (away from PPR), you can travel to the Springfield Mall, then down the Pike to the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby. 

While these stops may not be too exciting, you can use them to connect to other destinations.  For instance, if you get off at the Mall, you can take the #110 to the Granite Run Mall or Marple Shopping Center, both of which have AMC movie theaters.  Or, from either the Chester Transportation Center or the 69th Street Terminal, you can get to the King of Prussia Mall (one of the biggest malls east of the Mississippi), via the #118 or #123, respectively.  Finally, you can use 69th Street to get to many points in Philly, such as Penn's Landing (#21) or 30th Street Station (#30).

By Train

The most popular transportation choice for car-less Swatties, our SEPTA line gives us direct access to Philly and everywhere in between.  Taking the local R3 line is pretty self-explanatory, but here are a few tips:

• If you're going to Philly, make sure to wait next to the train station; wait across the tracks if you're going to Media/Elwyn.  The only exception to this rule is when there is track construction, and an announcement will usually be made if this is the case.

• If you're traveling on a weekday morning, be sure to buy your ticket at the station office, or face a $2 surcharge on the train.  This same rule applies to Philly stations at all times, since they have ticket machines that are always available.

• If you're traveling with a group of friends (at least 3 people total), you may be able to beat the exorbitant SEPTA fares by purchasing a Family Ticket.  At $15 roundtrip to Philly, you can save a lot of money - but be aware that not all conductors are friendly to this petty "abuse" of the system.

• If you're traveling through Center City to a destination on another line, be sure to tell the conductor at Swarthmore, and he/she will give you a ticket for the whole trip.  If you buy two separate tickets, it will be more expensive.

• There are 5 major Philly stops, each with access to a unique set of major destinations:
  University City: UPenn and the Schuylkill
  30th Street: Amtrak and Drexel
  Suburban: The Parkway, Rittenhouse Square, and City Hall
  Market East: Greyhound, Chinatown, South Street, and Old City
  Temple: Temple (duh!)

• Once in Philly, you can also use a host of services, including shuttle buses, to get to any number of other destinations.

• And don't forget that the R3 also goes to Media - a great town in and of itself.

By Trolley

Believe it or not, there's a trolley line that runs right next to the Springfield Mall.  The line, #101, runs to both 69th Street Station and Media.  The former gives you a number of connections to other trolley and bus lines in the area, while the latter puts you in the seat of the county, with a better selection of shops and restaurants than the Ville.

By Subway

While no subway line runs all the way out to Swat, if you can get to 69th Street Station (take a trolley or bus from the Springfield Mall), you can have access to the Market-Frankford Line.  This subway will take you an incredible number of spots along Market St., including Penn's Landing, Chinatown, and Reading Terminal Market.  And you can transfer to the Broad Street Line at City Hall, which will give you easy access to the Avenue of the Arts and the Philly sports complex.

By Van

You may not know this, but the Student Council offers van service to a couple of local attractions, including Geunardi's, Target, the Mall, and Marple - the closest movie theater.  For more info, click here.

Have a great trip - and remember, no matter how fun the real world is, you need to come back to Swat!