<p>Hello: Son and I visiting Penn and Swarthmore. Train into Philly 9pm Sun; fly out of Philly on Tuesday noon. If we have time would love to see Indep. Hall. So - best to stay near Penn and commute to Swarth, or perhaps near the airport (I read its an easy trip to Swarth from there)? Somewhere between the two? Any advice most appreciated!</p>
<p>We made the same trip and I'd recommend staying right next to Penn's campus ... I think we stayed on campus at the Sheraton. Personally I like staying on/next to a campus so my kid and I spent the evening around the school. My second choice would be downtown Philly somewhere (1/2 -1 mile from Penn). My last choice would be near Swarthmore, the airport, or anywhere else ... pretty staying in the burbs ... to me less connected to a school and less interesting overall.</p>
<p>Check the Inn @ Penn and the University City Sheraton. Those are the two major hotels serving Penn.</p>
<p>You can get a commuter train to Swarthmore -- the station there is actually on the college campus -- at the station by the Penn campus. It's about a 20 minute ride. You can also get a (different) train that goes right to the airport terminals there.</p>
<p>If you want to go to Independence Hall from Penn, it's a 10 minute subway ride, and maybe a 45-minute walk (about 2-1/2 miles, through Center City Philadelphia). Very pleasant if the weather's nice.</p>
<p>So, by all means stay near Penn. You won't need a car at all.</p>
<p>If you can swing it, first choice definitely would be the Hilton Inn at Penn--nice boutique-style hotel right across the street from the heart of campus:</p>
<p>The</a> Hilton Inn At Penn - Philadelphia, PA Hotels</p>
<p>The Sheraton University City is a great second choice:</p>
<p>Famous</a> Hotels in Philadelphia - Philadelphia best hotels.</p>