Parking in Philadelphia
 

I feel so pathetic posting this question but I don't know how else to find this out. I live in Center City, but without a car so I've never had to worry about this before. Friends and family would like to visit me (by car) sometimes--is there anywhere to park overnight that wouldn't cause someone to go bankrupt, get towed, or get a ticket?? Only once I had someone visit, park on 11th and Pine (no meters), and was fine the next morning. Was that a fluke? Thanks!!

Our standard "default" parking lot when we needed one was the reasonably priced garage behind the grocery store on 10th and South. The garage itself is between 10th and 11th Streets, between South and Lombard. Prices aren't unreasonable and we preferred to just suck it up and pay their rates rather than circle around endlessly looking for a free parking space and then worry about moving the car every two hours during the day.

Thanks--no one has tried that garage yet. Have you ever parked there overnight? Typical pricing on it?

Yes, we parked overnight. Everything was fine (but don't leave ANY visible items in the car or make it look like you're trying to hide something). I imagine the overnight rate now is somewhere in the $10 range--take a walk down and check.

Excellent--thanks so much--I'll go check it out.

I have a similar question...what are the "meter rules" in center city? Is there a certain time you can stop feeding them? Weekends? Or are they 24 hrs?

The meters can be very tricky! You have to read the signs carefully! In Center City proper I think you can stop feeding the meters after 6PM Mon-Sat and on Sunday they are free. In Old City/Historic Area below Market meters are Monday through Sunday not sure how late. Above Market it's until 6:30 and not on Sunday. Art Museum area it's 7 days. And be careful, because I missed a sign on Arch St. in Chinatown, parked at a meter (and again missed the sticker on the other side of the meter) and ended up spending all evening getting my car out of the lot where it was towed!! Bottom line is READ THE SIGNS!!