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Benjamin Franklin is one of the starring characters of The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia. Franklin was a rock star, and his name is to this day synonymous with so many landmarks in and around Philly, including the Ben Franklin Bridge.
The Ben Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway offers a 1.5 mile off-road route with picturesque and breathtaking views for walkers, runners and cyclists to travel between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey. The walkway provides amazing views and photo opportunities of Philadelphia and the Camden waterfront.
The Pedestrian Walkway is free and provides an amazing jogging path in a unique environment.
The History
The Ben Franklin Bridge was originally named the Delaware River Bridge, and it is a suspension bridge across the Delaware River that connects Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey.
Construction on Ben Franklin Bridge began on January 6, 1922, and following an initial $45.2 million investment, the bridge opened to traffic on July 1, 1926. With 61,700 tons of steel, the bridge is 7,456’ in length and 128’ in width, offering seven lanes of traffic.
On July 1, 1926, it is estimated that 250,000 people cross the Delaware River Bridge.
The grand opening of the Delaware River Bridge was presided over by Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot and New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore. On July 2, 1926, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge arrived to dedicate the Delaware River Bridge.
In 2017 alone, 37.1 million vehicles crossed the bridge.
In addition to the Ben Franklin Bridge being one of the signature landmarks defining Philadelphia, the bridge is very cool because it provides three modes of transportation: 1) vehicular lanes, 2) PATCO High Speedline, and 3) pedestrian walkway. It is amazing how the pedestrian path was constructed high above, yet right between the 7 lanes of traffic and the PATCO High Speedline train tracks on the edge of the bridge. It is an engineering marvel...
The Ben Franklin Bridge is well known to Philadelphians, and people all over the world since it has been featured in the opening credits of the cable TV series “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, and in various motion pictures including: Blow Out, Fallen, National Treasure, Philadelphia, Rocky, The Italian Job, Transformers 2, and Twelve Monkeys.
Access to the Pedestrian Walkway
From the Philadelphia Side
- South Entrance - Access to the walkway is located at 5th & Race Streets, across the street from the U.S. Mint.
- North Entrance - Access to the walkway is located south of 5th and Vine Streets, down a small road called Marginal Rd.
(Note: On the Philadelphia side of the Bridge, there is an underground tunnel that connects both Philadelphia entrances, so that you can access the North and South pedestrian walkways from either entrance.)
From the Camden, New Jersey Side
- South Entrance - The walkway is located along Pearl Street, across from 5th Street. Enter 400 Pearl Street into your GPS.
- North Entrance - The entrance to the walkway is found on North 5th Street, south of Elm Street. Enter 501 North 5th Street into your GPS.
(Note: On the Camden side there is also a pedestrian tunnel under the bridge, however it is a few hundred feet away from the entrances. It is most easily accessed from the South, enter 468 Pearl Street into your GPS.)
Hours of Operation
October 1 - April 30: 6AM-8PM
May 1 - September 30: 6AM-9PM
Travel Advisories
- North Pedestrian Walkway: Open Daily
- South Pedestrian Walkway: Closed (Under Construction for Upgrades, Tentatively Set to Re-open in Spring 2019)
The construction project on the South Pedestrian Parkway will improve accessibility to the South walkway of the bridge in New Jersey by replacing the existing stairway with a ramp. In turn it will be easier for bicyclists and those on foot or with strollers.
Insider Information
- Use caution and be alert for others including maintenance crews at work, cyclists and runners
- Leashed pets are welcome, but please clean up after your pet
- A portable toilet is available at the South entrance in Philadelphia
Ryan Fatzinger, Results Fast Sports Performance
Special thanks to Ryan Fatzinger, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, who owns Results Fast Sports Performance, for sharing with us one of his favorite running routes with the Ben Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway. Staff and guests of The Constitutional have enjoyed training with Ryan at his gym in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. Whether you a local or a visitor to Philly and are looking to hire a personal trainer to run with you on the Ben Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway, up the Rocky Steps, through America’s Birthplace at Independence Park or along Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive, call 484.515.9745 or visit www.resultsfastsp.com. “I love running the Ben Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway,” according to Ryan. “It's an amazing workout!”
Additional Information
The Ben Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway is operated by the Delaware River Port Authority which also operates the Ben Franklin Bridge and PATCO.
