Directions to the Kelly Writers House
The Kelly Writers House is at 3805 Locust Walk on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. Locust Walk is a pedestrian street between (and parallel to) Walnut St. and Spruce St.
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Walking directions
Locust Walk is a pedestrian street between (and parallel to) Walnut St. and Spruce St. It is easily accessible from 40th Street, 39th Street, and 37th Street. (From Walnut or Spruce, enter campus on any of these numbered streets).
From 38th Street, take either the ramp entrance or the stair entrance on either side of the 38th Street Bridge, which is between Walnut and Spruce. The stairs are a small gray entrance on the side of the bridge closest to Spruce; the ramp entrance is on the side of the bridge closest to Walnut. Both of these paths lead you onto Locust Walk and almost directly in front of the Kelly Writers House.
Public transportation
By subway
Our closest subway station is the 40th and Market St. stop of the Market-Frankford (blue) line. From this station, walk to Walnut St. and turn left (east). Turn right (south) on 39th St. to enter Penn’s campus and turn left (east) onto Locust Walk when you’ve reached the large red statue. The Writers House will be on your left (north) before the bridge.
BY TRAIN
Writers House is a 20-minute walk or short cab ride from 30th Street Station (at 30th and Market), which serves Amtrak, NJ Transit, and Regional Rail lines.
BY TROLLEY
Arrive to the 37th St. trolley stop using the 34, 13, 11, or 36 trolleys. From this stop, walk to 38th and Spruce and follow the instructions for reaching Locust Walk from 38th Street at the top of this page. If coming from the 10 trolley, get off at the 36rd St. stop, walk south to Walnut St. and turn right (west) until you reach 38th St. Then, follow the instructions for reaching Locust Walk from 38th Street at the top of this page.
BY BUS
The routes that reach the Kelly Writers House are the 40, 42, 21, and 30. If on the 40 eastbound or westbound, stop at 38th and Spruce and follow the instructions at the top of the page. If on the 42 eastbound, do the same; if on the 42 westbound, stop at 39th and Spruce, walk north to enter Penn’s campus and turn right (east) at the large red statue until you see the Writers House on your left, before the bridge (this is the route with the least elevation and the easiest to traverse for people with disabilities or difficulty walking). If on the 21 eastbound, stop at 38th and Chestnut and walk to 38th and Walnut and follow the instructions at the top of the page; if on the 21 westbound, stop at 38th and Walnut and follow the instructions at the top of the page. If on the 30 eastbound, stop at 40th and Walnut and walk until 39th and Walnut, turning right (south) to enter Penn’s campus, then turning left (east) at the large red statues until you see the Writers House on your left (before the bridge). If on the 30 Westbound, stop at 38th and Chestnut, walk to 38th and Walnut, and follow the instructions at the top of the page.
BY LUCY
Our closest LUCY stop on both the Green and Gold lines are 38th and Spruce. Follow the instructions at the top of the page from here.
Penn Transit
The Penn Transit options with stops closest to the Writers House are the East Shuttle Route, the PennBUS East, the PennBUS West, and the West Shuttle B. For all of these options other than the West Shuttle B, get off 38th and Walnut or 38th and Spruce and then follow the directions to Locust Walk at the top of this page. For West Shuttle B, get off at 38th and Spruce and follow the directions to Locust Walk at the top of this page.
Driving directions
From the northeast
Take the New Jersey Turnpike to exit 4 for Route 73 North. Proceed on Route 73 North to I-295 South. From I-295 South, take exit 26 of I-76 West. Cross over to Philadelphia via the Walt Whitman Bridge. This section of I-76 is also called the Schuylkill Expressway. Take exit 40 for South St., and turn left onto South St. to enter campus. Note: Exit 40 is a LEFT LANE EXIT. South St. becomes Spruce St., which you will take to 38th St., and turn right. At the next light, turn left on Walnut St.
From the northwest
Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 24, Valley Forge Interchange. Take I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway) approximately 17 miles to Exit 40, South St., which EXITS ON THE LEFT. Turn right onto South St. to enter the campus. South St. becomes Spruce St., which you will take to 38th St., and turn right. At the next light, turn left on Walnut St.
From the north
Take I-95 South to I-676 West toward Center City. From I-676 exit in less than two miles taking "exit only" ramp towards the airport marked I-76 East. Proceed less than a mile to Exit 40, South St., which EXITS ON THE LEFT. Turn right onto South St. to enter the campus. South St. becomes Spruce St., which you will take to 38th St., and turn right. At the next light, turn left on Walnut St.
From the south
From I-95 North take the PA-291 exit 13 to Central Philadelphia (I-76 West). After crossing the Platt Bridge, take a left at S. 26th St. at the first light. Merge onto I-76 West. From I-76 West take the South St. exit 346A on the left. Turn left at the light onto South St. South St. turns into Spruce St. Take a right at 38th St. At the next light, turn left on Walnut St.
Parking
Penn garages
- Garage #30 at 38th and Walnut: Parking is $8 for the first hour and $2/hr after the first. There is a flat rate of $12 for cars in after 9:00AM and out before 7:00PM. There is a flat rate of $10 for cars in after 5:00PM and out before 10:00PM.
- Garage #40 at 40th and Walnut, above the Fresh Grocer: Same rates as above, but the flat rates are $2 cheaper. If you are in the garage for less than 2 hours, you can have your parking validated at the Fresh Grocer with a purchase of $10 or more (a good idea since parking for 2 hours is $10 anyway). After the 2 hour limit, the Fresh Grocer validation will not apply to garage rates.
Here is a map of all Penn parking garages and lots.
Street parking
There is meter parking almost everywhere within a four block radius of the Kelly Writers House. Generally, it's not difficult finding meter parking after 6pm. Most streets have free parking west of 42nd St.
Accessible Access
There is no designated accessible parking for the Kelly Writers House. Street parking and various parking garages offer accessible parking spaces. Accessible access from street level is available from west 38th street, just south of Walnut street or from Locust Walk from points west of 39th street.
There is an accessible drop-off lot. The access the lot, travel south on 38th Street from Walnut and make the first right into the parking lot. You cannot park in this lot - it is for loading/unloading only. From the lot, Kelly Writers House is accessible by travelling south between 3803 and 3805 Locust Walk, then entering Kelly Writers House from Locust Walk.