NFL Draft in Philadelphia: Road closures, detours, and parking information

After weeks of preparation and a month of road closures, the NFL Draft in Philadelphia has officially taken over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from April 27 to 29. Thousands of people already came out for the draft’s first day on Thursday.

Meanwhile, all four phases of the month-long closures are in play. Some streets will stay closed until May 7, well past the last day of the draft.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, here is everything you need to know about the three-day event, from road closures, parking limits, and best modes of transportation (Hint: If you go, walk. Definitely just walk.)

Photo by Melissa Romero

The Basics:

NFL Draft schedule

• Thursday, April 27: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Friday, April 28: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, April 29: 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The official festival map

Road Closures

Phase 1: Begins April 10 at 12:01 a.m. and ends May 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Spring Garden Street westbound will close at Pennsylvania Avenue.
• The westbound center roadway of Benjamin Franklin Parkway will maintain two lanes from 20th Street to Eakins Oval. The left lane of Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from East Eakins Oval to Spring Garden St. and continue to southbound Kelly Drive, where it will open up to three travel lanes.
• The right two lanes of Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum steps will be closed for the building of the theatre.
• Southbound Kelly Drive will have a lane drop between 25th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Phase 2: Begins April 19 at 12:01 a.m. and ends May 2 at 11:59 p.m.

• Inner lanes (inbound and outbound) of Benjamin Franklin Parkway closed from Eakins Oval to 20th Street.

Phase 3: Begins April 24 at 7 p.m. and ends May 1 at 5 a.m.

• Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from 20th Street to the Art Museum.
• Martin Luther King Drive will remain open to 24th Street
• Eastbound Spring Garden Street will remain open from 31st Street to 24th Street.
• Kelly Drive will be closed at Fairmount Avenue with traffic detoured onto Fairmount Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue.
• Starting at 7:00pm on Monday, April 24th, due to the closure of the outer lanes on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, traffic headed inbound (to Center City) from Spring Garden Street Bridge or Martin Luther King Drive must exit Eakins Oval on the 24th Street ramp. Traffic headed inbound on Kelly Drive must exit Kelly Drive at Fairmount Avenue. Those wishing to access the rear of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the north side must exit onto Fairmount Avenue, turn right on Pennsylvania Avenue and proceed SB on 25th Street onto Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive.

Phase 4: Begins April 25 at 12:01 a.m. and ends May 1 at 5 a.m.

• 21st Street closed from Winter Street to Spring Garden Street
• Local access to Pennsylvania Avenue only (all traffic must turn left)
• 22nd Street closed from Race Street to Spring Garden Street
• Local access to Park Towne Place only (residents)
• 23rd Street closed from Fairmount Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Local access only
• 24th Street closed from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Park Towne Place
• Local access only
• Martin Luther King Drive closed at Sweet Briar Drive.
• Road opened daily during peak AM rush hour on 4/27 & 4/28 (5AM-10AM) for access to I-676 via 24th Street
• Kelly Drive closed from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Fairmount Avenue
• Spring Garden Street Bridge closed at 31st Street
• Road opened daily during peak AM rush hour on 4/27 & 4/28 (5AM-10AM) for access to I-676 via 24th Street
• Access to I-76 westbound will be maintained
• Local access to Art Museum will be maintained
• Spring Garden Street closed from 22nd Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Local access after peak AM rush hour
• Pennsylvania Avenue closed from Hamilton Street to Fairmount Avenue
• Local access after peak AM rush hour
• Pennsylvania Avenue/Callowhill Street closed from 20th Street to 21st Street
• Local access to Barnes Foundation driveway (westbound) only
• Eastbound open from 21st Street
• Park Towne Place closed from 22nd Street to 24th Street
• Local access only (residents)
• I-676 westbound 22nd Street off-ramp closed
• The following streets be designated “local access only” west of 22nd Street: Wallace Street, Mt. Vernon Street, Green Street, Judson Street, Brandywine Street

This is where you can’t park

• 2400 Pennsylvania Avenue (south side angle parking only) from 4/5 to 5/8
• Pennsylvania Avenue between 22nd Street & Fairmount Avenue (south side of street only)
• Winter Street between 20th & 22nd Streets (both sides of street)
• 20th Street between Vine & Callowhill Streets (east side of street only)
• 21st Street between Benjamin Franklin Parkway & Race Street (both sides of street)
• 22nd Street between Winter & Spring Garden Streets (both sides of street)
• Park Towne Place between 22nd & 24th Streets (both sides of street)

If your car does get towed, call the 9th Police District at 215-686-3090/3091 to find out where it’s located.

This is how to get around by bike

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia shared this map for cyclists trying to get to or get around the NFL Draft. Note that the Indego Art Museum Station has been temporarily moved closer to the Schuylkill River Trail.

Best ways to get there:

• Walk: If you have a smartphone, put “Benjamin Franklin Parkway” into your map and start your trek. You can’t miss it.
• Take SEPTA: The city is encouraging drivers to park down in South Philly at the sports stadium complex, where parking will be free during the draft. From there, take the Broad Street Subway at AT&T Station, located at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, and get off at City Hall or Race and Vine and walk to the parkway.

If you take SEPTA regional or the Market-Frankford Line, get off at 15th Street/Suburban Station, which drops you off right at the foot of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (More information on SEPTA detours and travel info over here.)

• The NFL Draft will turn the Benjamin Franklin Parkway into a massive outdoor festival [Curbed Philly]
• Everything you need to know about the NFL Draft Experience [Mayor’s Office]
• SEPTA’s NFL Draft information [SEPTA]