About this Location

Facility Overview

Lot C2 is a spacious, open-air surface parking facility strategically situated at 501 Penn Street in the heart of downtown Camden, New Jersey, directly adjacent to the Rutgers University–Camden campus. Designed with a clear, level layout and wide driving aisles, the lot provides straightforward self-parking for daily commuters, university faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors. Because it is a grade-level, open-sky lot without overhead clearance barriers, it accommodates a broad range of passenger vehicles—including standard sedans, compact crossovers, large pickup trucks, full-sized SUVs, and specialized passenger vans—without the vehicle height concerns typical of multi-level garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located on Penn Street between North 5th and North 6th Streets, Lot C2 sits in a prime institutional and cultural hub. It serves as an optimal parking destination for several key regional and educational landmarks:

Rutgers University–Camden: Immediately adjacent to campus facilities, including the Campus Center, Paul Robeson Library, the Rutgers Law School complex, and the Fine Arts Building (1 to 4 minutes on foot).
Camden City Hall & County Courthouse: Government, civic, and municipal offices are located roughly 4 to 6 blocks south (7 to 10 minutes on foot).
Benjamin Franklin Bridge Walkway: The pedestrian and bike ramp across the Delaware River into Philadelphia is located mere blocks away, offering scenic cross-river treks.
Camden Waterfront & Entertainment District: Attractions such as Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Adventure Aquarium, and the Battleship New Jersey are just over a mile away, accessible via a short 5-minute drive or a quick connection on the NJ Transit River LINE.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Lot C2 offers outstanding vehicular connectivity. Positioned adjacent to the Interstate 676 (Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Boulevard / North-South Freeway) access corridors and Route 30 (Admiral Wilson Boulevard), drivers can easily bypass downtown congestion when arriving from Cherry Hill, South Jersey suburbs, or crossing over the Ben Franklin Bridge from Center City Philadelphia. Ingress and egress points onto Penn Street allow for smooth entry and departure, even during morning and afternoon commute peaks. For regional rail and public transit connections, the Walter Rand Transportation Center is within a 10-minute walk (0.5 miles), offering direct connections to the PATCO Speedline to Philadelphia and Lindenwold, multiple NJ Transit bus routes, and the River LINE light rail toward Trenton.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous surface lot format with no low clearance constraints, suitable for tall vehicles and roof racks.
Accessible Stalls: Designated ADA-compliant accessible spaces positioned conveniently close to pedestrian curb cuts and campus pathways.
Illumination & Visibility: Overhead lighting poles covering the perimeter and driving aisles for enhanced visibility after dark.
Modern Payment & Permitting: Compatible with institutional Rutgers Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) digital permits and mobile parking application sessions where posted.
Paved & Striped: Fully paved asphalt surface with clearly marked stalls and directional driving lanes.

Ideal For

Rutgers Students, Faculty & Staff: Convenient, secure daily campus parking with zero shuttle transfer required.
University Visitors & Conference Attendees: Ideal for academic guest lectures, admissions tours, and legal seminars.
Civic & Municipal Visitors: A dependable staging ground for visitors heading to the nearby Camden municipal, county, and federal court complexes.
Multi-Modal Commuters: Drivers seeking a convenient parking spot within walking distance of the PATCO Speedline and River LINE.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When planning your trip to Lot C2, check current signage at the entry gate, as university parking regulations strictly govern stall designations between faculty/staff, registered students, and paid visitor parking during standard business hours. If you are visiting for campus events, open houses, or special symposiums, look for dedicated digital mobile payment instructions or purchase a visitor permit online in advance through the university parking portal to avoid citations. During major waterfront concerts or downtown sporting events, traffic near the foot of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and along I-676 ramps can thicken; allow an extra 15 minutes of travel time when arriving during late afternoon rush hours.