Directions & Parking

The Franklin Institute science museum is located in Center City Philadelphia, at the intersection of 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The museum's parking garage entrance is located behind the building at the intersection of 21st Street and Winter Street.

The GPS address of our parking garage entrance is:
271 North 21st Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Please Note: The Franklin Institute’s parking garage has a limited number of spaces and reaches capacity often. We recommend you plan to use the following parking lots in the event The Franklin Institute’s garage is full:

  • 1901 JFK Boulevard
  • 17th and The Parkway
  • 1901 Callowhill Street

View Directions to Alternate Parking Locations

Parking Rates and Information

The Franklin Institute’s garage charges $20 to park.
TFI Members save $5!

  • This rate is good for one day
  • Each additional day is $20
  • Be advised that The Franklin Institute garage has a height limit of 6'1" and has limited parking for oversized vans, trucks, and SUVs
  • You may be directed to other garages if your vehicle cannot be accommodated
Directions

From Delaware, Maryland, and Points South of Philadelphia, via I-95 North
Take I-95 North to Exit #22 (I-676 / US 30 / Callowhill Street). Follow Route 676 West (locally known as the "Vine Street Expressway") to the "Ben Franklin Parkway/Museum Area" exit. At the top of the ramp all traffic must turn right onto 22nd Street. Go to the first light and make a right onto the Ben Franklin Parkway. Stay in the far right hand lanes. One block later, turn right onto 21st Street. One block later, 21st Street intersects with Winter Street. Just past the intersection, the entrance to the parking garage is on your left hand side.

 

From Northern New Jersey and New York (Via the Ben Franklin Bridge)
From Northern New Jersey and New York, via New Jersey Turnpike use Exit #4 (Philadelphia/Camden) and exit onto Route 73 North. Follow to Route 38 West. Take 38 West across The Ben Franklin Bridge (toll) into Philadelphia. Follow Route 676-West (locally known as the "Vine Street Expressway") to the "Ben Franklin Parkway/Museum Area" exit. At the top of the ramp all traffic must turn right onto 22nd Street. Go to the first light and make a right onto the Ben Franklin Parkway. Stay in the far right hand lanes. One block later, turn right onto 21st Street. One block later, 21st Street intersects with Winter Street. Just past the intersection, the entrance to the parking garage is on your left hand side.

 

From Bucks County and Northern Suburbs (From I-95 Southbound)
Take I-95 South to Exit #22 (Philadelphia). Follow Route 676 West (locally known as the "Vine Street Expressway") across town and Exit at the "Ben Franklin Parkway/Museum Area" Exit. At the top of the exit ramp, all traffic must turn right onto 22nd Street. One block later, turn right onto the Ben Franklin Parkway. Stay in the far right hand lanes. One block later, turn right onto 21st Street. One block later, 21st Street intersects with Winter Street. Just past the intersection, the entrance to the parking garage is on your left hand side.

 

From Southern New Jersey (via the Walt Whitman Bridge)
Take the Schuylkill Expressway, (Route 76 West), and follow to exit for 676 Eastbound (#344). Immediately start moving over to the far right lane to take the 23rd Street Exit. Continue straight ahead to 21st Street. Make a right onto 21st Street and the parking garage is almost immediately on the left.

 

From Southern New Jersey (via the Ben Franklin Bridge)
Take the Atlantic City Expressway to Route 42 Northbound. Follow Route 42 North to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and cross into Philadelphia. Follow the signs for Route 676 Westbound (locally known as the "Vine Street Expressway"). Follow Route 676 West across town. Exit at the "Ben Franklin Parkway/Museum Area" exit. At the top of the exit ramp, all traffic must turn right onto 22nd Street. One block later, turn right onto the Ben Franklin Parkway. Stay in the far right hand lanes. One block later, turn right onto 21st Street. One block later, 21st Street intersects with Winter Street. Just past the intersection, the entrance to the parking garage is on your left hand side.

 

From Western Suburbs and Pennsylvania Turnpike
Take PA Turnpike to Exit #326 (Valley Forge), onto the Schuylkill Expressway (same as I-76 East). Continue on I-76 East to exit onto Route 676 eastbound (Exit #344). Almost immediately, exit onto the "23rd Street" exit ramp. (The exit comes up quickly on the right hand side.) At the end of the ramp, go straight ahead onto Winter Street. Follow Winter Street to 21st Street. Turn right onto 21st Street. The entrance to the parking garage will be almost immediately on your left.

Public Transportation

If you are traveling to The Franklin Institute by SEPTA's Regional Rail or Amtrak, Suburban Station and 30th Street Station are short cab rides away. If you are able, Suburban Station is in close walking distance and 30th Street is in moderately close walking distance. Go to SEPTA for transit schedules and use their trip planner for helpful hints on getting around the city or visit Amtrak for directions from 30th Street Station. Philadelphia bus riders may also choose SEPTA bus routes 32, 33, 38, or 49.
 

If you are riding the PATCO Hi-Speedline from South Jersey, take it to 15th/16th Streets and Locust. From there, you are a short cab ride to or in moderately close walking distance from The Franklin Institute.
 

Take the Philly PHLASH to stop #12 to visit The Franklin Institute from any of the 19 other stops.
 

Also on SEPTA, from Delaware County, take the Norristown 100 Line to the 69th Street Terminal. Ride the Market-Frankford line to 30th Street. From there, you can take the free transfer to the Trolley Green Line to 19th Street. The Elwyn Regional Rail Line will also work.

You can travel to Philadelphia from many locations in New Jersey. Visit our Trip Planner for rail stations and bus stops, schedules and fare options, and connections with other NJ TRANSIT, SEPTA and PATCO services. Our Trip Planner can be found at njtransit.com or by downloading the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App™.