Here is an updated PHL Airport Parking Lot map and table from the Philly Inquirer. It's from Aug, 2004.

UPDATE: Here is the August 2005 Airport Parking Lot map and table from the Philly Inquirer.

BONUS: So called 'Cell phone parking areas' when waiting to pick up people on return flights.

Parking at PHL is a lot more difficult now that SouthWest is entrenched. The lots (and the hotels) are MUCH fuller. Thankfully the parking rates have not increased too much, the hotel rates have though.

Most people going to PHL from the DE or MD area use the parking lots west or south of PHL. Most people I know from DE use Ramada, Priority or Colonial. I prefer Ramada and if full, I just procede up RT 291 until I find an empty lot. The price gets higher as you get nearer the airport.

MisterNice

What places have people used here to park at PHL? Wife and I moved to Central NJ and decided to take a cheap Southwest flight out of PHL. We looked at trains to PHL, but would have to transfer at Trenton and again in Philly so decided to just drive (of course, on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend so hope traffic isn't too horrible).

Did some google search and found (coupon prices):

Avistar $6.95
Priority $7.95
Amco $8.95 (claim includes all fee/taxes)
Ramada $6.95 (says keep keys)
Colonial $7.50 (claims includes fee/tax - keep keys)

I am guessing that Colonial is best as it is $7.50 total and you keep keys. I really do NOT like leaving my keys with the parking place (one reason is that I drive a Toyota Prius and a replacement "key" is $400 as it's a wireless fob).

Anyone have any comments on the folks above or anyone else?

Thanks.

I use Colonial all the time and it works fine as long as you call ahead and get reservations. The only drawback is that the van that picks you up from the terminal is always packed, usually standing room only.

It's $7.50 a day with the coupon from the internet and you can also get a frequent parker card with gives you a free parking stay on every 8th visit, up to 5 days parking.

One other drawback for you is that you will be coming from the north on 95 not south, so it's a little out of the way for you.

I drive a Prius too, so I understand the whole key thing.

Rich

Check out: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466258

MisterNice

Keep in mind with Colonial that if you stay at least 7 days you get 1 day free, so its even less than $7.50 a day. Whenever I use PHL I park at Colonial , Never found a cheaper deal. I usually park it for 8 days, meaning Im gone 7 nights.

Thanks for the info. Looks like I should maybe try to get a reservation for Colonial. Thanks for the link MisterNice as I don't think I would have found that forum.

There is an extensive discussion of this topic here.

Any update on the best parking value near PHL? I am looking to park for about a week in my upcoming trip. Price is a priority, but safety (for my car) is also important. Thanks in advance.

LAX

Haven't parked there in a while, so will be interedted in hearing any updates.

P.S: Lax, the best parking IMO is "leave your car at home/hotel/friends and take Septa R-1 train to/from airport".

I know about Septa and I use it every time I travel alone. However, when my spouse and I travel together, we can't get to the train station!

Anyways, anyone with the latest updates? Any help appreciated.

LAX

An update to an old thread, as I've parked several times in the last few weeks:

SunPark on Scott Way, hugely expensive, $32 for 18 hours, but lots of room (wide spaces), quick to pickup, and very, very close to terminals. You pay more for convenience.

Pacifico Airport Valet: Used them twice in the last few months. I don't like them for some reason that is hard to figure out. Even though the company says no tipping, the drivers make it known you still can. When you walk in the office to drop your car it seems seedy, and smells like people smoke, so you wonder if they do that in your car. And they can't wash you car anymore. And they always seem rushed, too.

Ramada: The old standby. Big lot, no frills, long(er) drive to get dropped off, and picked up. After a long trip, and you're eager to get back to your car, it's annoying that they always drop people off at the hotel entrance first, and then deliver you to the parking lot. They're trying to be both a close-to-the-airport hotel with van service, and a big airport parking lot. And the wait times to get picked up can be up fifteen minutes.

PHL Economy Lot: Anybody with recent experience care to update us?

"PHL Economy Lot: Anybody with recent experience care to update us?"

I was there yesterday and paid the flat rate of $9 for a three hour stay. The rate is $9 up to 24 hours. I do not recall if the rate changes for weekly or longer stays.

Allow an extra half hour (minimum) to forty five minutes to get to your flight if you park here. The bus is supposed to come every seven minutes. The bus stops at each of the shelters in the lot and at each airline terminal. It took about fifteen minutes to get to the first terminal (A) from the economy lot.

When getting back to your car, you have to catch the bus at the baggage claim area. Otherwise, you are going for a long ride through the remainder of the terminals and to baggage claim, before the bus goes back out to the lots.

On the plus side, the busses were clean and the drivers friendly.

My most recent experience with the economy lot (on a weekday in May) was this: I had a one-day back-and-forth trip from PHL-MKE. For these, my preference is just to park in the day lot near the terminal. That day, I tried every short-term lot and got turned away because they were all full. I then drove what seemed like miles to the long-term lot, and with one car ahead of me to get in, had the guy come out and put the "Lot Full" sign out. AAAARRRRGGGHHHH. Then I drove out to my standby from years ago when I used to live in Philly, the Ampco Express lot north of the airport. Thank God, they had spaces. I got to the gate about 30 minutes before the flight.

I had to do these day or quick overnight trips about 8 times in May-June. After several episodes of similar grief, I have now started to make parking reservations (!!) at Priority Parking in Essington. Parking in the short-term lot at the airport would be a lot more convenient, but I don't want to risk them being full again.

PHL needs WAY more parking lots these days.

My wife continues to use Winner Airport Parking, a valet service at around $9 a day with the Triple A discount. The advantage of a valet service, in my opinion, is they accept responsibility if your car is damaged in their lot. They inspect the car before driving to to the airport, which my wife always notes since on one trip over a year ago the vehicle was damaged and they repaired it on a subsequent visit. Another advantage to Winner is they can wash, detail or service your vehicle while you are away at what I consider to be a reasonable cost.