Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Alphabet, is hitting the road again — this time heading east.
On Monday, Waymo announced it’s sending vehicles to Philadelphia and New York City as part of its ongoing effort to explore new cities for its autonomous driving technology.
But before you expect to hop in a Waymo robotaxi in Times Square or Center City, here’s what’s actually happening.
What Is a “Waymo Road Trip,” Exactly?
Waymo calls these city visits “road trips,” but they’re not public launches.
Here’s what they usually involve:
- A small group of Waymo cars (with human drivers)
- Loaded with its autonomous driving system
- Driving around to map roads, collect data, and test the tech in real-world traffic
The cars don’t drive themselves at first. A person is always behind the wheel. Later on, Waymo may test self-driving mode — again, with a human inside — to see how its software handles local roads.
Then, engineers back at Waymo HQ use all that data to fine-tune the system.
Why Philly and NYC?
Waymo has been expanding its testing footprint across the U.S. — and now it’s exploring the busy, complex roads of Philadelphia and New York City.
In Philly, the cars will roam through:
- Downtown areas
- Local freeways
- Neighborhoods like North Central, University City, Eastwick, and even areas along the Delaware River
In New York, Waymo plans to manually drive cars through:
- Manhattan, from above Central Park to the southern tip
- Downtown Brooklyn
- Parts of Jersey City and Hoboken
They’ve also applied for a permit to test autonomous driving in NYC, but it’s still pending approval.
This Isn’t Waymo’s First NYC Visit
Waymo actually mapped parts of Manhattan and New Jersey back in 2021.
Earlier this year, the company even sent cars to Buffalo to test how its system handles snowy winter roads — an important step toward making AVs more weather-proof.
But there’s a catch: New York City laws don’t allow self-driving vehicles without a person in the front seat. Waymo is currently pushing to have that rule changed.
Where You Can Ride Waymo Today
If you’re eager to try a robotaxi, you’ll need to head to one of these cities:
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Los Angeles, California
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Austin, Texas
- Atlanta, Georgia
Waymo is also planning to launch in Miami later this year, and it has set its sights on Washington, D.C. in 2026.
What’s Next?
Waymo’s road trips don’t always turn into full commercial launches — but sometimes they do.
For example, Waymo road-tripped to Santa Monica last year. Today, they run a robotaxi service in Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood.
If testing in Philly and NYC goes smoothly — and local laws change — you might see Waymo robotaxis offering rides in the Northeast someday.
The Bottom Line
Waymo is laying the groundwork for future expansion. The cars you see around Philly or Manhattan? They’re not driverless just yet. But they are learning how to drive there.
By testing in busy, unpredictable cities like these, Waymo is moving one step closer to making robotaxis a normal part of everyday life — even on the East Coast.
Quick Recap:
- Waymo is testing in Philadelphia and New York City to collect data and map the streets.
- The vehicles are not autonomous yet — they’re manually driven during early tests.
- No public rides are available, but that could change in the future.
- Waymo is already operating in Phoenix, LA, Austin, Atlanta, and more.
- NYC regulations currently require a human in the front seat, but Waymo wants that to change.