About this Location

Facility Overview

501 Penn St Parking is an open-air surface parking facility strategically situated at the corner of Penn Street and North 5th Street in the heart of downtown Camden, New Jersey. Located within the bustling Rutgers University–Camden corridor, this ground-level lot provides straightforward, unobstructed parking without vertical clearance restrictions. As an outdoor facility, it comfortably accommodates a wide variety of vehicles, including compact sedans, standard crossovers, full-sized SUVs, large pickup trucks, and high-roof passenger or utility vans that frequently exceed the height barriers of traditional multi-story parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

This parking facility is exceptionally positioned for academic visitors, public transit commuters, government officials, and waterfront eventgoers. Prominent local destinations include:

Rutgers University–Camden Campus: Directly borders campus buildings, including the Rutgers School of Law (Camden), Paul Robeson Library, and the Campus Center, all reachable within a 2- to 5-minute walk.
Camden City Hall & Court Complexes: Located roughly 3 blocks away (under a 7-minute walk), ideal for jury duty, municipal appointments, and legal professionals visiting Camden County Superior Court.
Camden Waterfront & Entertainment District: A quick 5-minute drive or scenic 15-minute walk to world-class attractions, including the Adventure Aquarium, Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, and concert experiences at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion.
Camden County College (Camden City Campus): Just two blocks east, making it a reliable off-street option for enrolled students and adjunct faculty.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward from Penn Street and adjacent North 5th Street, providing quick dispersal onto major regional arteries. Drivers benefit from instantaneous connectivity to the foot of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, allowing effortless travel to Center City Philadelphia in under 5 minutes. The lot is also within seconds of Interstate 676 (North-South Freeway), Route 30 (Admiral Wilson Boulevard), and Route 38/70 connections.

For multi-modal transit users, the Walter Rand Transportation Center and PATCO Speedline stations (City Hall Station and Broadway Station) are located less than 4 blocks away, offering rapid, 24/7 subway connections to Philadelphia, Collingswood, Haddonfield, and Lindenwold, as well as the NJ Transit River LINE light rail north toward Trenton.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous open sky clearance with no low-hanging beams or ceiling height restrictions.
Designated Parking Stalls: Clear stall striping including ADA-compliant accessible spaces.
Digital Payment Capabilities: Mobile pay options often supported via parking payment apps (such as ParkMobile) alongside on-site payment signage.
Perimeter Visibility: Street-level lighting and clear sidewalk crosswalk connections to nearby university pathways.
Convenient Egress: Wide driving lanes facilitate easy turning maneuvers and smooth exit flows even during peak rush hour traffic.

Ideal For

Rutgers University Students & Faculty: Commuters seeking dependable day parking steps from lecture halls and academic libraries.
Courthouse & Civic Visitors: Citizens and legal personnel attending proceedings at Camden City Hall, Hall of Justice, and County Clerk offices.
Philadelphia Commuters: Park-and-ride motorists utilizing PATCO rail into Center City Philadelphia to avoid costly downtown bridge tolls and steep Philadelphia parking tariffs.
Waterfront Concert & Event Visitors: Convenient perimeter parking for attendees heading down to seasonal festivals and waterfront entertainment venues.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During major concert evenings at the nearby Freedom Mortgage Pavilion or commencement exercises at Rutgers University, parking demand in the district increases dramatically. Arriving 30 to 45 minutes prior to scheduled events ensures an easy space selection. Drivers heading toward Philadelphia after parking can hop directly onto the Benjamin Franklin Bridge ramps located just off Penn Street, while southbound motorists can avoid local gridlock by navigating straight toward I-676 South.