Philadelphia is one of America’s premier cities, with an amazing history stretching back hundreds of years, and so much to see and do. One great way to go about exploring and photographing this big city is with drone photography. If you’re looking to find some awesome new spots to fly a drone in Philadelphia, we’ve assembled a list of some of the city’s must-see locales, so you can get some top-tier drone footage of Philadelphia. We’ve selected these locations based on nearby attractions, accessibility, and popularity.
Table of Contents
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1. Ben Franklin Bridge
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge is a historical suspension bridge across the Delaware River connecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey. It began construction in 1922, and at the time of its construction, was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Named after the legendary founding father, this bridge is a classic Philadelphia landmark.
A Philadelphia drone photographer who shoots at Ben Franklin Bridge will capture aerial views of traffic, passing boats, bridge architecture, and the Philly skyline. The footage comes out even more unique when shot at nighttime or sunset. Ben Franklin Bridge is one of the best spots to get some Philadelphia drone video.
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2. Philadelphia Museum of Art
Inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you can find art by some of the biggest names in the industry, from Picasso to Rembrandt. Outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you’ll find stunning architecture, beautifully manicured grounds, and some aerial shots to die for. The Museum is located on Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, PA.
During your flight, you’ll see the Schuykill river, park trails, the famous “Rocky Steps”, and the museum itself. When it comes to drone photography in Philadelphia, the Museum of Art is as iconic as it gets.
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3. SS United States
The SS United States is a retired ocean liner that was built in the early 1950s. It is the biggest ship ever entirely constructed in the United States and was the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in both directions. Today the ship is docked in Philadelphia and is slowly deteriorating away, making for a historic and eerie site for some drone photography.
A drone flight would reveal the Delaware river, surrounding port, and the historic abandoned vessel. A Philadelphia drone video that features the SS United States will highlight the famed old boat’s awe-inspiring presence.
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4. Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square is a public park located in Center City, Philadelphia. The park is surrounded by dozens of high-rise buildings and shopping districts. It is arguably the center of Philadelphia, with a history stretching back into the 17th century. With lush greenery, tons of pedestrian traffic, and a surrounding cityscape, it makes for great footage at any time of the day.
No Philadelphia drone video is complete without some angles above Rittenhouse Square, capturing the hustle-bustle of one of America’s oldest parks.
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5. Delair Bridge
The Delair Bridge is a railroad bridge with a vertical-lift section that crosses the Delaware River between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. The bridge opened in 1896 and was the first bridge between Philadelphia and New Jersey. Trains still cross over the bridge to this day.
On your drone flight over Delair Bridge, you’ll see the Delaware River, nearby Betsy Ross Bridge, trains, and passing boats. If you’re drone flying in Philadelphia, make sure to fly by Delair bridge to capture some great views of the water and bridge.
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6. Please Touch Museum
The Please Touch Museum is located in the Centennial District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Inside this museum, you’d find some of the best family-friendly fun in the city. Outside, you’re going to see sprawling architecture, wonderful statues, and monuments, and trails and parks just screaming to be capture in 4K drone footage.
For some great drone footage of Philadelphia, the Please Touch Museum gives you some of the great architecture the city is known for, as well as parks, pedestrians, and monuments.
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7. Wissahickon Valley Park
Wissahickon Valley Park contains 2,042 acres of public parkland within Northwest Philadelphia. Wissahickon is known for its scenic hiking trails, footbridges, creeks, and foliage. It has some of the best green scenery you’re going to find in a big city, and because of that, it makes for a perfect spot to fly a drone in Philadelphia.
A drone flyover would put on display the natural splendor of the trails, trees, and creeks. You might even manage to capture some wildlife footage if you’re lucky!
Where Will You Visit First?
Philadelphia is filled with many exciting locations for your next drone flight! From bridges, skylines, and historic buildings, anywhere you go in Philadelphia, there are great sites to see. While these are some of the seven best, with a drone in hand, anywhere you go in the city you can capture some amazing Philadelphia drone shots.
This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
