Comparable Schools'
Parking Grades:
Quick Stats
Student Parking Lot
Yes - Walnut Street between 32nd and 33rd streets. 38th and Spruce streets (enter off 38th Street). The northeast corner of 34th and Chestnut streets. 32nd and Walnut streets. The northwest corner of 40th and Walnut streets. A permit is required for all of these.
Common Parking Tickets
- Expired meter - $35
- Fire lane - $35
- Handicapped zone - $115
- No parking zone - $35
Freshmen Allowed to Park
Yes
Approximate Parking Permit Cost
Parking Permits
Students can apply for parking online through the Campus Express Web site (www.campusexpress.upenn.edu). They may be placed on a waiting list at first, but will then be notified if parking opens up. Parking on campus is limited, but permits are probably not very hard to get due to the low demand.
College Prowler Take
I’ll get straight to the point. You do not want to park on campus. As a matter of fact, there are not very many places in Philadelphia that you would want to park either. Even if you can afford the expensive cost of a permit, parking meters, and the occasional ticket, the average Penn student can not spare the time to make sure the meter is fed and that the car is in and out of the garage at the right time. Some people do bring a car to school, but most of them live in Philadelphia or a local suburb and find a personal vehicle useful for bringing home laundry and picking up mom’s home-cooked meals. However, if you are far enough from home that you can not simply drop the car off and take a cab back to campus, a car will usually prove to be a bigger hassle than it is worth.
If you heed most students’ advice and leave the car at home, fear not; you will still have an easy time getting around the city. Everywhere on campus is within easy walking distance, and if you are really a stickler for time, bring a bike and park it in one of the racks outside most buildings. Bikes are a fairly common mode of transportation, but beware: biking can be dangerous in a city environment like Philadelphia. The busy streets of Spruce and Walnut are two examples. It’s not that the school does not attempt to provide a decent parking system. There are garages and spaces reserved for Penn students and faculty, but the fact is, there is little demand for improvement in this area. If you’re concerned because you would really like to have a car at school, just think of it this way: you never have to pay for gas!
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Parking is horrible. Don’t bring a...
Parking is horrible. Don’t bring a car unless you know you can secure a spot. Personally, I think it would be a hassle to have a car. It’s not worth it unless you plan on taking numerous road trips. |
Anonymous says: |
Parking is bad. Very few people...
Parking is bad. Very few people put up with bringing a car on campus. You can either park on the street, which is a pain (and you have to feed the meter every two hours), look for parking God knows where and worry, or buy a parking permit for a garage or lot that’s costly. You really don’t need a car here. |
Anonymous says: |
I say don’t bring a car. It’s a...
I say don’t bring a car. It’s a city campus, and it’s really difficult and expensive to get parking. However, if your parents are coming for a few days, it’s not too bad. There are a number of parking garages around plus metered parking that usually can be found pretty easily. |
Anonymous says: |
Parking is atrocious, so if you...
Parking is atrocious, so if you are planning on bringing your car, you’d probably have to rent out a space. There are parking lots, though. |
Anonymous says: |
City driving can be frustrating. I...
City driving can be frustrating. I had a car for just the last two months of school. There are lots of parking meters. I’d be wary of parking past 41st/42nd Streets if you have a nice car. I highly recommend getting a parking pass. During drunken weekends such as Spring Fling, cars have been vandalized. There’s a lot of public transportation nearby, so a car is really not all that necessary unless you plan on going farther out for shopping. |
Did You Know?
Best Places to Find a Parking Spot:
• Walnut Street between 32nd and 33rd Streets
• 38th and Spruce Streets (enter off of 38th Street)
• NE corner of 34th and Chestnut Streets
• 32nd and Walnut Streets
• NW corner of 40th and Walnut Streets
Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here!
Hamilton Shops
Write for Us!
College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally
recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is
really like at your college. Read more >
