Bus From New York to Penn Homecoming: 5 Essential Planning Steps

Planning a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming trip is mostly a timing puzzle. Homecoming at Penn pulls alumni, families, and fans into Franklin Field on the same Saturday, and everyone is working out the same question: when do we leave, and how do we get back?

This guide covers how to plan a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming day using what Philly Bus publishes: the pickup points, the five standard departure times, the arrival rule, and the ticket policy that protects you if the day runs long. It leaves out anything we cannot confirm.

One thing up front. The game itself is run by Penn, and Philly Bus does not sell game tickets. Kickoff times and entry rules come from Penn Athletics, so confirm those there before you lock in a bus.

Bus From New York to Penn Homecoming: Know the Date

Penn Homecoming is an annual event, so the exact date moves each year. For 2026, the Homecoming game against Harvard is Saturday, November 14, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

That date is the only part of this page that changes year to year. Everything after this section, from pickup addresses to the arrival rule, describes how the bus works regardless of which Saturday Homecoming lands on.

Penn’s October 10 home game against Howard is a different weekend and is not Homecoming. If you are planning a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming, make sure the date you are planning around is the Harvard game, not an earlier home date.

Kickoff time is not part of what we can confirm here. Check Penn Athletics for the official start time before you choose a departure, because every other decision on this page depends on it.

Step 1: Pick a Departure for Your Bus From New York to Penn Homecoming

Philly Bus runs the New York-Philadelphia route more than 70 times a week, with five standard departure times: 9AM, 12PM, 3PM, 5PM, and 7PM. The 7PM run only operates on some days, so check the booking page for that Saturday before you rely on it.

For a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming, work backward from kickoff. Decide when you want to be inside the stadium, then leave time for the local leg between the Philadelphia stop and Franklin Field, plus a cushion for the ride itself.

The company’s own estimate for the ride is about 2 hours. That is an estimate, not a guaranteed time, and a big college weekend is not the day to cut it close.

For a morning or midday game, the earlier departures give you room to settle in, find a spot, and arrive without rushing. For an evening game, the same logic applies, but your return is the harder part, as the later steps explain.

Step 2: Know Both Pickup Points

In New York, the pickup point is 2 Pike Street, New York, NY 10002, by the Citi Bike lane. In Philadelphia, it is 1001 Filbert St, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Copy both addresses exactly as written so you are not guessing at landmarks.

The bus covers the intercity leg between those two addresses. Getting from 1001 Filbert St to Franklin Field is a separate local trip, and we do not publish transit routes or times for it, so check a maps app for that part.

Save the Philadelphia address in your phone before you leave New York. For a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming, the area around the stop may be busy with people heading the same way, and a saved address beats searching for it on a crowded street.

For the Philadelphia stop on its own, our guide on where to catch the bus in Philadelphia goes through that address and what to expect there.

Step 3: Arrive Early for the Bus From New York to Penn Homecoming

Philly Bus asks riders to arrive 20 minutes before departure. Seating is first come, first served, so there are no assigned seats and no saving seats for people who show up later.

If you are traveling with a group of friends or family, arrive together. Someone who turns up at the last minute may end up sitting apart from the rest of the party, because seats cannot be held.

Our guide on how early to arrive for the New York to Philadelphia bus explains how much margin is sensible and why a few extra minutes cost you very little.

On a big event weekend more people use the same handful of departures. For a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming, that makes booking ahead and arriving on schedule matter more than it would on a quiet midweek morning.

Step 4: Plan the Ride Home

The ride home is where a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming trip tends to unravel. Games run long, tailgates and reunions stretch, and a stadium emptying out means the walk back to the Philadelphia stop takes longer than you would guess.

Do not plan around the final whistle. Plan around when you would realistically be standing at 1001 Filbert St, and pick a return departure that leaves a real buffer after that.

Remember that the 7PM departure only runs on some days. If your plans could carry you past the afternoon, check the booking page for that Saturday and do not assume a 7PM run exists.

For a similar game-day plan from the other side of the same corridor, see our guide on taking the bus from New York to an Eagles game. The timing logic carries over.

Step 5: Keep Your Ticket Flexible

Philly Bus tickets are unrestricted. If you miss your bus, you can reschedule your trip for any time within one year of the ticket purchase date.

That is a reschedule, not a refund. The ticket is not refundable, and refunds apply only if the company cancels a trip. For the full picture, see our guide on what happens if you miss your bus from NYC to Philadelphia.

On a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming trip, that policy is the safety net. If a reunion runs long and your planned bus leaves without you, you are not out the whole ticket, though you will need to book another departure.

Fares come in three tiers: adult, child ages 3 to 6, and infant under 3. The price for your date is shown at booking, so check the booking page for the current fare rather than relying on a number you saw somewhere else.

Before You Go: A Quick Checklist

Before you book a bus from New York to Penn Homecoming, confirm three things. First, the Homecoming date and kickoff time on Penn’s official page. Second, the departure you want on the booking page. Third, the two pickup addresses saved in your phone.

For your bus from New York to Penn Homecoming, arrive 20 minutes early, allow for the local leg to Franklin Field, and choose a return with margin. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed on board, alcohol is not, and smoking or vaping is prohibited on the bus and within 50 feet of it.

If you need wheelchair assistance or other special help, Philly Bus asks you to call at least 48 hours before travel. Customer service is at +1(800)879-8775, and the email address is help@phillybus.com.

A bus from New York to Penn Homecoming comes around every year, so this page will still apply next fall with a new date. The pickup points, the arrival rule, and the ticket policy are what carry over from one season to the next.

Ready to plan your trip? Check current departure times and book your New York to Philadelphia bus before the weekend fills up.