About this Location

Facility Overview

The 5th and Valley Lot is a centrally situated municipal surface parking facility serving the heart of historic Downtown Burlington, Iowa. Located at the intersection of Valley Street and North 5th Street (coordinates: 40.809787, -91.105559), this open-air asphalt parking lot offers convenient off-street parking for residents, daytime workers, and visitors exploring Burlington's riverfront and historic commercial corridor. Because the lot is an entirely uncovered, level surface facility, it features unlimited vertical headroom with zero height restrictions. This open configuration makes it an ideal choice not only for standard sedans, compacts, and crossovers, but also for lifted pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, commercial service vans, and high-roof passenger vans that cannot fit into standard multi-level parking ramps.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Perched just one block north of Burlington’s primary shopping, dining, and entertainment thoroughfare along Jefferson Street, the 5th and Valley Lot provides effortless pedestrian access to premier local destinations:

Snake Alley: Famous as Ripley's-recognized "Unbelievably Crooked Street," this iconic 1894 brick-paved historic landmark is located merely two blocks north (a brisk 3-minute walk).
Historic Downtown Burlington & Jefferson Street: Just a 1-block stroll south brings visitors to local dining staples, craft breweries, bakeries, coffeehouses, independent boutiques, and art galleries.
5th and Valley Outdoor Cinema: The lot and adjacent brick facade of the Drake Hardware & Software building serve as the seasonal venue for downtown open-air community movie nights.
The Capitol Theater: Located on North 3rd Street (roughly 3 blocks east, a 5-minute walk), this restored art-deco theater hosts live music, classic cinema, and performing arts.
Burlington Memorial Auditorium & Riverfront: Situated along Front Street and the Mississippi River (approximately 5 blocks east, an 8-minute walk), home to concerts, expos, community events, and seasonal riverboat dockings.
Des Moines County Heritage Center: Located nearby on North 4th Street, highlighting regional heritage, riverboat trade, and railroad history.
Blaul Lofts & Churchill Lofts: Positioned immediately adjacent to modern residential loft conversions, providing vital nearby parking capacity for downtown apartment dwellers and their guests.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress to the 5th and Valley Lot are designed for straightforward maneuvering, with broad curb cuts along Valley Street and North 5th Street. Downtown Burlington features a well-ordered, low-stress street grid, allowing motorists to easily circumvent peak pedestrian areas before and after regional gatherings. Highway access is prompt and direct: Valley Street and nearby Main Street connect quickly to US Route 34, allowing swift crossings eastward across the Great River Bridge into Illinois or westward toward US Route 61. Regional and local transit connections are close at hand, with Burlington Urban Service (BUS) transit routes circulating through downtown, and the historic Burlington Amtrak Station (serving the California Zephyr line) situated approximately 0.6 miles to the southeast along South Main Street.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Level asphalt layout offering generous maneuvering aisles and zero vertical ceiling constraints.
Clear Stall Striping: Designated standard parking bays, leased commuter stalls, and marked ADA-accessible spaces.
Downtown Lighting: Integrated illumination covering the stalls and pedestrian sidewalks for safe evening departures.
Community Events Hub: Notable neighborhood spot recognized for outdoor civic activities and the annual summer cinema series.
Flexible Public Access: Free parking during evenings after 5:00 PM and throughout the weekend for non-reserved stalls, with affordable monthly lease options available through the City of Burlington.

Ideal For

Downtown Diners & Shoppers: Patrons visiting restaurants, pubs, and boutique stores along Jefferson Street and 4th Street.
Heritage Sightseers: Tourists visiting Snake Alley, the Des Moines County Heritage Center, and the scenic Mississippi Riverfront.
Local Commuters & Downtown Residents: Daily office workers, loft residents, and visiting clients seeking dependable off-street parking.
Theater & Event Attendees: Audiences attending performances at the Capitol Theater or events at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium.
Oversized & High-Profile Vehicles: Drivers of large work vans, tall trucks, and rooftop rack-equipped recreational vehicles requiring open headroom.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When parking at the 5th and Valley Lot, always review the posted signage at each parking bay. Certain stalls are designated for reserved 24/7 or daytime weekday business leases, while standard municipal spaces are open for general public use. Public non-leased parking in downtown municipal lots is free after 5:00 PM on weekdays and entirely free on Saturdays and Sundays. For navigation systems, inputting 116 N 5th Street or the corner of 5th and Valley Street will bring you directly to the lot entrance. During summer Friday evenings when downtown events or the 5th and Valley Outdoor Cinema are hosted, spaces fill up quickly, so arriving 20 to 30 minutes early is recommended to secure a spot.