Taking the bus from New York to Philadelphia for the Flyers vs Rangers game is a simple way to see the rivalry in Philadelphia without driving down the New Jersey Turnpike or hunting for parking near the arena. The part that needs a plan isn’t the ride. It’s the night itself.
A hockey game is an evening event, and the Philly Bus schedule has a hard limit on how late a bus leaves. This guide covers how to time the trip down, what the last departure of the day means for your night, and what to do if plans change.
Everything about the bus comes from what Philly Bus publishes. Everything about the game comes from the official schedules, which you should check again before you go.
Bus from New York to Philadelphia for the Flyers vs Rangers game: The Date and the Arena
The Flyers and Rangers play twice in the regular season. The first game is on November 5 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The second is at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, which is the one this guide is about.
The Philadelphia date is Wednesday, December 16, at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA.
We don’t list a puck drop time here, because our schedule source doesn’t give one. Confirm the start time on the Flyers’ official schedule before you pick a departure, and check it again the week of the game in case it moves.
The two teams meet every season, so this is a yearly plan, not a one-off. If you’re reading this after December 16, the NHL sets the dates again each year, and the same steps work for the next Philadelphia home date.
If you’re heading the other way for the November game, our guide on taking the bus from Philadelphia to New York for the Flyers vs Rangers game covers that direction.
Philly Bus doesn’t sell game tickets, and we won’t comment on availability. Get those from the Flyers or the arena directly, and treat this page as the travel half of the plan.
How the Bus from New York to Philadelphia for the Flyers vs Rangers game Works
Philly Bus runs the New York to Philadelphia route more than 70 times a week, with departures at 9AM, 12PM, 3PM, 5PM, and 7PM. The 7PM run only operates on some days, so check the booking page for December 16 before you count on it.
The New York pickup point is 2 Pike Street, New York, NY 10002, by the Citi Bike lane. The Philadelphia stop is 1001 Filbert St, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Enter both into your maps app before you leave.
The company estimates the ride at about 2 hours. That’s an estimate, not a guarantee, so don’t schedule the bus to arrive just before your plans start.
Seating is first come, first served. There are no assigned seats and no saving seats for friends who haven’t arrived, and the published advice is to arrive 20 minutes before departure.
For the bus from New York to Philadelphia for the Flyers vs Rangers game, expect a busy bus on a rivalry night.
A group heading to the same game should arrive together, since nobody can hold seats for latecomers. If you’re traveling with a bigger party, our guide on traveling as a group on the NYC to Philadelphia bus has more.
Choosing a Departure for the Game
The simplest way to choose a departure for the bus from New York to Philadelphia for the Flyers vs Rangers game is to work backward from puck drop.
Start with the game’s start time, subtract the time you want to be in your seat early, then subtract the trip from the Philadelphia stop to the arena.
Then subtract the ride itself, which Philly Bus estimates at about 2 hours, and add a cushion on top. Whatever departure sits just before that moment is the earliest one you can safely use, and an earlier one gives you more room.
The arena is a separate local leg from the stop at 1001 Filbert St. We don’t publish local transit routes or travel times, so check the arena’s own visitor information for the best way to cover that part.
With a weeknight game, an early afternoon departure also gives you time to eat before the game instead of eating on the way in. That’s a comfort choice, not a rule, and the five departure times give you room to pick what suits you.
Wednesday, December 16 is a weekday, so some of your group may be coming straight from work. If so, count the time to reach 2 Pike Street as part of the trip, not just the ride.
For the arrival side of that plan, see our guide on how early to arrive for the New York to Philadelphia bus.
The Return Trip After the Flyers vs Rangers Game
This is the part of the bus from New York to Philadelphia for the Flyers vs Rangers game that catches fans out. The latest standard departure is 7PM, and that run only operates on some days. A game that starts at 7:00 PM or later ends after that bus has left.
So if your game starts in the evening, don’t assume a late bus is waiting for you. Even on a day when the 7PM run exists, the game won’t be over by then, and a same-night return by Philly Bus may not exist.
That doesn’t have to ruin the trip, but it changes the plan. One option is to stay overnight in Philadelphia and take a morning departure back the next day, which is something to decide before you book rather than after the final horn.
For the departure times on the day after the game, the booking page shows the real schedule. We don’t guess which runs operate on a given date, and neither should you.
Two guides cover this in more depth. See the last bus from Philadelphia to New York after a night game and whether the 7PM bus runs every day.
Overtime, a delay, and a slow exit from the building all push in the same direction. Treat the scheduled end of the game as the earliest you’ll be done, not the latest.
If Your Plans Change on Game Day
Plans change on game days. A late train into Pike Street, a longer lunch, or a delay on the way can mean you miss the departure you booked.
Philly Bus tickets are unrestricted, so if you miss your bus, you can reschedule your trip for any time within one year of the ticket purchase date. That’s a reschedule, not a refund.
The ticket terms state that the ticket is not refundable. The exception is a trip the company cancels, in which case all affected passengers are refunded the original purchase price through the payment method they used.
December weather can matter, too. The FAQ says Philly Bus reserves the right to cancel buses due to weather, traffic, or other conditions, so check the official site or app on the day. Our guide on what happens if your bus is cancelled for weather explains the terms.
For a general look at what happens when you’re late, see what happens if you miss your bus from NYC to Philadelphia.
A Four-Step Plan for the Trip
To make the bus from New York to Philadelphia for the Flyers vs Rangers game work, do four things. Confirm the puck drop time, pick a departure that leaves a cushion, decide how you’ll get home, and know the reschedule rule.
First, confirm the start time with the Flyers, since our source doesn’t list one. Second, choose a departure that arrives well before the game, with the arena’s own visitor information covering the local leg.
Third, settle the return. If the game starts at 7:00 PM or later, plan for an overnight stay and a morning bus rather than a late one. Fourth, remember that a missed bus can be rescheduled within a year, though the ticket isn’t refundable.
Do those four things and the night is about the game, not the logistics. You’ll know when to leave, where to board, and what to do when the final horn goes.
Ready to plan your trip? Check December departure times on the Philly Bus booking page before you choose your day.