Philadelphia weekend parking
September 9, 2014 9:52 AM   Subscribe

Where can I park my car in Philadelphia for the weekend while I'm at a conference downtown?

I'm going to be in Philadelphia this weekend for a conference on Benjamin Franklin Parkway near Cret Park. Parking at the hotel is expensive ($35/day), and it seems like there's got to be a better way since I don't need my car at all during the weekend. Where can I safely park my car for the weekend?

I'll be arriving on Friday at about 1pm (driving from Boston) and leaving Sunday around 6 or 7pm. I don't want to have to check on the car or move it during this time. Are there park & ride facilities that would work? Are there parking garages that would be reasonable?
posted by msbrauer to Travel & Transportation around Philadelphia, PA (6 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: The Economy Lot at the airport charges $11/day. They have free and frequent shuttles to the terminals. Then for $8 you can take the train into the city. There is also private parking at the airport advertising for as little as $4.50/day, but I have never tried it.

Parking is also available at various SEPTA lots, and is free on the weekends. I cannot vouch for how safe your car would be overnight at any of these locations. I mentioned the more expensive airport option first because it is gated, guarded parking, and because I have used it myself.
posted by ubiquity at 10:10 AM on September 9, 2014


Northeast Philly, born and raised. When I park in Center City I typically park at the PPA Parking Garage at 1540 Vine Street chiefly because it is near a Vine Street expressway off-ramp and that's how I get downtown. That garage is right near Cret Park and $18/day.
posted by Rob Rockets at 11:00 AM on September 9, 2014 [1 favorite]


Best answer: There is a parking garage on Spring street just off of 676 (across from Drexel Medicine) that is $5 a day on weekends: http://www.philapark.org/garages/gateway/
posted by picklesthezombie at 11:52 AM on September 9, 2014


I once left a car overnight at the 30th st train station because I was returning to Philly by train. I don't remember what it cost, and the web site I found didn't answer the question.
posted by SemiSalt at 2:03 PM on September 9, 2014


Have you considered taking the train for the whole trip? Boston to Philly is a long shlep, and the main reason to do it yourself is that you need the car at your destination -- if you don't, then it's worth the price to go by train instead, with your feet up and/or your laptop running . . . The fare is pretty reasonable, especially after subtracting gas and parking.
posted by acm at 2:58 PM on September 9, 2014


Best answer: I don't know if you'll be taking 95, but if you are, the Cornwells Heights station has a huge, free parking lot. It's a 30 minute train ride and costs $5.75 to Center City.
posted by qldaddy at 4:52 AM on September 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


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