Facility Overview

Situated in the heart of Providence's historic College Hill, Brown University Visitor Parking at the Power Street Parking Garage (officially designated by the university as Lot 68 Upper) serves as the primary designated public visitor parking facility for Brown University. Located at 111 Power Street at the corner of Thayer Street, this facility features a structured multi-level layout where visitors park on the open-air upper deck level, entering directly from Power Street. The upper deck format provides wide-open vertical clearance with no overhead height obstructions on the deck itself, allowing standard passenger cars, minivans, crossover SUVs, and full-size pickup trucks to park comfortably. However, oversized commercial cargo vans, recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, and large buses cannot be accommodated due to standard parking bay dimensions and compact neighborhood turning radii.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned on the southern edge of the university campus, this facility places visitors within effortless walking distance of academic landmarks, cultural sites, and lively dining districts:

• Brown University Main Green & Stephen Robert '62 Campus Center: Located just a 6-to-8-minute walk north, providing direct access to undergraduate admissions, campus tours, historic University Hall, Sayles Hall, and administrative offices.
• Thayer Street Commercial District: A quick 3-to-5-minute stroll away, offering dozens of popular eateries, coffee shops, bookshops, and boutique retail stores.
• Wickenden Street & Fox Point: Situated 3 to 5 minutes to the south, known for eclectic indie boutiques, coffee roasters, neighborhood taverns, and diverse dining spots.
• John Brown House Museum: Just 3 minutes west along Power Street, this landmark 18th-century mansion offers guided historical tours and period architecture.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) & RISD Museum: Approximately 10 to 12 minutes on foot downhill along Benefit and North Main streets.
• Downtown Providence, Waterplace Park & Providence River: Roughly a 15-minute walk or a brief 5-minute rideshare across the river to the Rhode Island Convention Center, Amica Mutual Pavilion, and Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC).

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The facility is accessed via the entrance on Power Street near the intersection of Thayer Street. Ingress and egress are straightforward from major transportation arteries, including Interstate 195 (via Exit 2 toward South Main Street/Gano Street) and Interstate 95 (via Exit 37B onto Memorial Boulevard and up College Hill). After campus events or peak afternoon class dismissals, traffic along Thayer and Power streets disperses smoothly toward connecting bypass routes. For transit connections, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus routes stop along adjacent corridors on Thayer, Brook, and Waterman streets, connecting visitors directly to Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence. In addition, the Providence Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail Station is situated approximately one mile to the northwest, accessible via a short connecting bus or rideshare trip.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Convenient Contactless Payment: Pay-by-cell QR code signage posted throughout the garage enables rapid mobile payments via credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
• Open-Air Upper Deck Parking: Excellent natural lighting during daylight hours with well-maintained night lighting for evening arrivals and departures.
• Clearly Marked Stalls: Defined parking bays and directional traffic arrows ensure smooth one-way circulation across the deck.
• Campus Safety & Monitoring: Regular patrols conducted by the Brown University Department of Public Safety (DPS) alongside nearby blue-light emergency stations.
• Accessible ADA Parking: Dedicated accessibility options are provided, with primary ADA visitor spaces located in adjacent university lots such as Lot 65 on Benevolent Street with valid state placard display.

Ideal For

• Prospective Students & Campus Tours: Prospective families and visiting high school students attending Brown University admissions sessions, info tours, and campus events.
• University Guests & Guest Lecturers: Visiting academics, guest speakers, conference attendees, and alumni visiting academic departments.
• Thayer Street & Wickenden Street Diners: Visitors enjoying culinary outings, coffee, and evening drinks across the East Side without the hassle of two-hour municipal street meters.
• Cultural Visitors & Historic Sightseers: Tourists exploring the historic architecture of College Hill, the Benefit Street 'Mile of History', and the John Brown House.
• Brown Athletics Spectators: Fans attending athletic contests, campus symposiums, or arts and theater productions in nearby performance halls.

Visitor & Driver Tips

To ensure a seamless visit, drivers should keep several practical considerations in mind:

• Use the Power Street Entrance: Set your navigation system specifically to 111 Power Street; the upper visitor deck entrance is situated at the Power Street side, while the lower level is reserved for university permit holders.
• Scan and Pay Promptly: After pulling into an open stall, locate the posted QR code sign nearest your vehicle and complete your payment session immediately to avoid university parking citations.
• Daytime vs. Weekend Rates: Hourly rates are typically $4.00 per hour on weekdays and $3.00 per hour on weekends, with a weekday daily flat rate option available until 6:00 PM; note that standard visitor passes do not permit overnight parking without advance coordination through the university transportation office.
• Arrive Early for Major Campus Events: During Commencement, Family Weekend, and large campus symposiums, this facility fills up rapidly; plan to arrive early or review university event advisories for designated overflow lots.