Traffic Flow & Parking on Race Days

Directions

Out-of-town participants who need detailed information on the best road routes into Philadelphia can find them here. For general orientation to the regatta area, refer to our location maps. Although the maps indicate the road traffic pattern for regatta days only, they are also a useful visual reference for those arriving earlier.  Please drive SLOWLY (no more than 10mph) along Kelly Drive.

KEY TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

READ SECTION 1 below if you are a crew coach or individual participant bringing boats to the regatta by trailer, van or car-top.

READ SECTION 2 if you need regatta-day instructions for TEAM BUSES.

READ SECTION 3 if you are a competitor or spectator driving their own vehicle to the racecourse. 

SECTION 1

Bringing in boats. If you are bringing in boats prior to race days, whether by car, van or trailer, you must access Kelly Drive from the north, i.e. by City Avenue (Exit 340A from the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) and head southbound on Kelly Drive. Note that Kelly Drive will close to through-traffic at approximately 7PM on Friday, October 27th. Please use appropriate caution at all times. Complete the Trailer Questionnaire to assist us in planning your boat trailer arrival/stay.

All trailers arriving on Friday should do so after Noon and before 7:30pm.  Trailers should proceed to our regatta staging area at the Angels, below Columbia Bridge. Proceed slowly down Kelly Drive; after passing the Grandstands and coming under the Columbia Bridge, you will see a parking attendant waving you to pull off the road onto a multi-use path.  Under supervision of our parking marshals, carefully follow the multi-use path to park where directed. PLEASE RESPECT THE PARK and make every effort not to damage the trees and grass.  PLEASE BE AWARE that this a public park and paths are utilized by pedestrians/cyclists.

On SATURDAY and SUNDAY, boats arriving at the regatta site shall check in with the parking staff at the Access Barrier. Depending upon space availability, trailers will be directed to proceed to the Three Angels area or park in the spill-over lot at the Canoe House.  Car-top shells will be directed to the Three Angels area or a designated zone along Kelly Drive according to the dock from which they would prefer to launch.

Trailers, vans and cars bringing in boats for Sunday races only, should plan to arrive between 5:30-7:30pm on Saturday.

Departing trailers.  Please see a parking marshal prior to departing the Angels area to be escorted to the appropriate exit lane and clear any boat/pedestrian traffic from the path.  We strongly encourage not to exit until the conclusion of racing each day.

Food trailers (Trailerettes/Chuck Wagons) and team tents (other than for shelter from the elements) are not permitted in the Three Angels area.  Team tents shall be erected between the City Dock and Grandstands.  Food trailers will be directed to park along Kelly Drive adjacent to this area.  Tow trucks must be removed and park according to direction of our parking staff and space availability.

SECTION 2

Regatta-Day Instructions for Team Buses. Proceed southbound on Kelly Drive to Columbia Bridge. A certain number of buses will be permitted to parallel park along the east (non-river) side of Kelly Drive as directed by parking staff. Please take care in disembarking and unloading into passing traffic.  If you have traffic cones, please place along side your bus and at door to create buffer.

SECTION 3

Vehicle Access Pass. The regatta committee pre-issues a tag to identify the vehicles of registered competitors, volunteers, and vendors. These tags are for use by competitors and team personnel, as well as those needing to drop-off supplies or athletes. We urge cars and vans to angle park as closely together as possible in order to maximize the number of spaces available.

HOSR vehicle ID tags are not parking permits. The tag provides access to the closed on-site area of the regatta for picking up or dropping off people or essential equipment and supplies, and to park in designated areas IF space is available. They do not, at any time, provide the automatic right to park in any part of the restricted area, or even to park free of charge off site (off-site parking areas are paid lots, operated by a City contractor). If you do park anywhere in the restricted area, you MUST continue to display the HOSR vehicle access pass on your vehicle’s dashboard. Otherwise, your vehicle may be towed.  We urge cars and vans to angle park as closely together as possible in order to maximize the number of spaces available.

Restricted area on race days. From 8PM on Friday, October 27th through 6PM on Sunday, October 29, the entire area of Kelly Drive between Strawberry Mansion Bridge and the new traffic light at the intersection with Fountain Green Drive will be restricted to vehicles with HOSR 2023 Access Passes only. All such vehicles must be driven in a southbound direction only. Diagonal parking will be permitted in certain areas along Kelly Drive, strictly on the river side only, as directed by staff.  At all times, the northbound lanes of Kelly Drive must be kept clear of all vehicles, to enable city emergency vehicles to have unrestricted access. Vehicles driven or parked in the northbound lanes will be cited for a major violation. All vehicles must be removed from Kelly Drive each evening.

If you are a regatta Volunteer or Vendor, please proceed to Area 2 (Grandstand Parking Lot) on the on-site parking area map for your specially designated parking. Vendors with Reserved parking tags will be directed to angled parking spaces on the river side of Kelly Drive adjacent to Area 3 (Three Angels North).

Drop-off Zone.  A drop-off zone will be located adjacent to Area 3 to unload equipment/passengers. Drivers shall not be allowed to leave their vehicles.  Vehicles will then be directed to exit the restricted area as noted below.  If you have an Access Pass and parking along Kelly Drive is available, drivers are welcome to circle back around the loop to park along Kelly Drive as directed by parking marshals.

Leaving the Restricted Area. If you drive into the restricted area of the regatta with the benefit of a HOSR vehicle ID tag but are unable to park, you must drive southbound on Kelly Drive and exit the closed area at the police-monitored Exit Barrier located at the Three Angels. There will be NO left turn onto Fountain Green Drive at this point. You must continue southbound on Kelly Drive, either to exit Fairmount Park altogether, or to access any of the designated off-site parking options, following the loop indicated on the wide-area traffic map.

Paid Parking. The off-site all-day paid parking fee is between $20 (cash only). You need only pay once per day. The off-site parking is managed by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. Shuttle buses (yellow school busses) will run continuously throughout the day.  Please note which parking area you leave your vehicle (flags will denote Area A, B and C) Directions to off-site parking.