Best Places to Fly
Your Drone in Philadelphia

One cannot fly a drone in Philadelphia and not take photos of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The bridge itself is scenic, but so are the surrounding piers and the sunset over the city skyline. Launching a drone from the bridge is a bad idea so tt's best to fly from Columbus Blvd. or Race Street Pier.

The sprawling Wissahickon Valley Park has more than 2000 acres of parkland bisected by the WissaHickon Creek. It has space for plenty of different outdoor activities and is a habitat for thriving wildlife. With such a massive land area, there is virtually endless opportunities for you to fly a drone in this park. Make sure to keep within visual contact range unless otherwise authorized by the FAA.

Fairmount Park is Philadelphia’s largest public recreational space. It’s also the historical name given to several parks throughout the city’s region. The Schuylkill River divides the property’s 2,052 acres of open space, aptly named East Park and West Park. This property has many attractions, some less obvious than others. Concourse Lake, the surrounding wetlands, and mature forested areas guarantee some epic aerial drone footage.

A few of the structural attractions are also worth mention. There’s the Carousel House Farm, Shofuso Japanese Garden House, and the old Stone Arch Bridge. And if sculptures are your thing, be sure to visit Saint George and the Dragon and The Journeyer statues.

This tiny park nestled among the docks and storage tanks on the Delaware River is an ideal place to launch from. There are good views of Center City Philadelphia and the dock area. Directly in front of the park is Petty Island, once an oil storage facility for the Venezualan oil giant CITGO, it was given to the State of New Jersey and will be remediated and turned into an environmental refuge.

Philadelphia’s 19th-century Boathouse Row is an ancient landmark that celebrates the city’s diversity. It reflects areas of historical, cultural, and sporting significance. You can find the old Boathouse Row on the Schuylkill River’s eastern bank, north of the iconic Fairmount Waterworks. It’s an attractive location for drone pilots, especially at dusk. That’s when the lights come on, casting gorgeous reflections off the water’s surface.

The Schuylkill River Park is another Philadelphia attraction along the river banks. It’s a popular recreation space for locals and visitors. Here you’ll find people strolling around peaceful green lawns and well-maintained community gardens. This park also has a couple of fenced-in dog parks. The rec center offers sporting facilities and lays on several community events. Drone pilots like to film the picturesque river views, river bridges, and the surrounding city landscape.

There is a lot to see in the gardens surroundings the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Aside from the iconic museum, you have the Washington Monument, the statue of Rocky Balboa, outdoor sculptures, and the historical Fairmount Waterworks building. The garden is also very beautiful and it's not uncommon to see several photographers moving around at any given moment. Just pick a spot to fly your drone here, but be mindful of other park visitors.

Next door to Philadelphia’s historic Bartram’s Garden is the Bartram’s Garden Dock and Community Boathouse. The property rests peacefully on the Schuylkill River shore. Its dock is the access point for local anglers, boaters, scenic river cruises, and various river programs. This idyllic spot is where nature blends in harmony with the industrial backdrop.

Camera drone pilots have lots of open space to film the surrounding nature and old structures. There’s an active steel railway bridge to the north of the Boathouse. Fans of trains and bridges shouldn’t have to wait long before a working locomotive comes into view.