About this Location

Facility Overview

The MDOT Carpool Parking Lot Brighton SE #1 (commonly recognized locally as the Lee Road Park & Ride) is an essential park-and-ride commuter asset located at 6630 Fieldcrest Drive in Green Oak Township just south of Brighton, Michigan. Positioned directly along the US-23 corridor at the Lee Road interchange, this dedicated open-air surface lot offers roughly 144 well-paved, clearly striped vehicle parking spaces. Designed with generous turning radii and broad two-way traffic lanes, the layout supports fluid, low-stress maneuvering for standard commuter vehicles, compact cars, pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and high-roof passenger or work vans. Because this is an entirely open-air facility with zero overhead restrictions or clearance structures, elevated vehicles, roof-box-equipped SUVs, and commercial contractor vans can park without any vertical height concerns.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned along the vibrant commercial seam between Brighton and Green Oak Township, this lot provides quick pedestrian and vehicular access to major retail, recreation, and business hubs:

Green Oak Village Place (0.5 miles east): Located directly across the US-23 interchange, this prominent open-air lifestyle mall features national retailers including Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods, TJ Maxx, and numerous casual dining destinations.
Downtown Brighton (3.5 miles north): A five-minute drive brings visitors to historic downtown Brighton, home to the Mill Pond, Brighton Amphitheater, local microbreweries, and boutique retail storefronts.
Island Lake State Recreation Area (2.5 miles east): A sprawling 4,000-acre state park acclaimed for mountain biking, kayaking along the Huron River, trail running, and shoreline beaches.
Huron Meadows Metropark (3.5 miles southwest): Renowned for scenic golf, winter cross-country ski trails, and peaceful nature walks.
University of Michigan & Ann Arbor (18 miles south): Serving as the prime northern staging hub for Livingston County commuters heading to central campus, North Campus, Michigan Stadium ('The Big House'), and the University of Michigan Medical Center.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via Fieldcrest Drive, situated just off the modern roundabout system linking Lee Road with the US-23 freeway ramps. Traffic flows steadily during peak hours, and highway access is virtually immediate, allowing drivers to merge southward onto the US-23 corridor—which features the MDOT Flex Route active traffic management system for managed peak travel times—or northward toward the I-96 freeway junction. In addition to personal ridesharing and carpools, the facility serves as an official transit stop for the People's Express commuter bus service, running scheduled weekday morning and evening routes linking Brighton directly to Whitmore Lake and the University of Michigan Medical Center complex (Med Inn) in Ann Arbor. Rideshare services (Uber and Lyft) readily service this location as a designated park-and-transfer meeting spot.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

100% Free Public Parking: Fully funded and operated by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) with no parking meters, permits, or gates required.
Open-Air Surface Lot: Broad open headroom suitable for tall pickups, conversion vans, and roof-racked vehicles.
Transit Bus Connection: Regular weekday service via the People's Express transit shuttle serving Ann Arbor and U-M Medicine.
Highway Safety Illumination: High-mast overhead pole lighting illuminates the lot dusk through dawn for enhanced visibility and passenger security.
Designated Accessible Spaces: Fully marked ADA-compliant parking bays located near the primary entrance with leveled sidewalk transitions.
Winter Maintenance: State-managed maintenance contracts ensure prompt snow plowing and salting operations during Michigan winter conditions.

Ideal For

Ann Arbor & U-M Commuters: Professionals, medical staff, and university personnel avoiding expensive downtown Ann Arbor campus parking.
Game-Day & Event Travelers: Michigan Wolverines fans organizing weekend carpools to Michigan Stadium or Crisler Center.
Retail Shoppers & Diners: Convenient overflow and meeting point for patrons visiting Green Oak Village Place and adjacent medical plazas.
Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts: Groups carpooling with bikes and kayaks to Island Lake Recreation Area or Huron Meadows Metropark.
Interstate Carpoolers & Vanpools: Long-distance commuters traveling across Livingston, Oakland, and Washtenaw counties via US-23 and I-96.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Weekday mornings between 6:45 AM and 8:15 AM see the highest commuter influx, so arriving slightly earlier ensures your choice of prime spots near the transit boarding area. If riding the People's Express shuttle to Ann Arbor, verify the latest schedule and fare structure in advance on their transit portal. While overnight parking for commuter purposes is standard across MDOT carpool facilities, vehicles should not remain parked continuously for more than 48 hours to avoid citations or abandonment towing. During winter months, exercise caution after freezing rain or heavy snowfall prior to municipal plow runs, and avoid leaving valuables visible inside your vehicle when parking all day.