About this Location

Facility Overview

Situated in the quiet countryside of Riley Township in Clinton County, the parking facility at 7415 S Forest Hill Rd serves visitors, aviation enthusiasts, and flight students frequenting Forest Hill Airport (FAA LID: 3F5) and the on-site FlyMiPPG powered paragliding school. Configured as an expansive, open-air rural surface lot and grass/gravel turnaround apron, this location provides direct vehicular access to the airfield perimeter, hangars, and flight training grounds.

Because the lot is situated in an expansive open field with no overhead beams, structural decks, or low-clearance canopies, vertical clearance is completely unrestricted. This makes it exceptionally well suited for standard passenger sedans, oversized pickup trucks (including dual-rear-wheel models), full-size SUVs, horse trailers, utility haulers, camper vans, and high-roof adventure vans carrying aviation or sports gear.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located roughly halfway between St. Johns, DeWitt, and Westphalia—and only 15 to 20 miles northwest of the Greater Lansing metropolitan core—the 7415 S Forest Hill Rd property is a notable regional hub for recreational aviation and rural outdoor pursuits. Key local destinations and regional points of interest within an easy drive include:

Forest Hill Airport (3F5) & FlyMiPPG Training Grounds: Steps away from the parking area, where pilots and students participate in ultralight, powered paraglider (PPG), and general aviation flights.
Downtown St. Johns: Approximately 10 miles north (14-minute drive), home to the historic Clinton County Courthouse, local antique shops, the Mint City Collective, and classic dining establishments along Clinton Avenue.
Downtown DeWitt: Roughly 9 miles southeast (12-minute drive), featuring community parks, dining along Bridge Street, and local golf destinations like the Prairie Creek Golf Course.
Sleepy Hollow State Park: Around 18 miles northeast, offering year-round outdoor recreation, hiking trails, disc golf, boating, and fishing on Lake Ovid.
Greater Lansing & Capital Region International Airport (LAN): Located approximately 12 to 14 miles south, granting fast connections to regional commercial air service, convention centers, and Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The facility is accessed directly via South Forest Hill Road between West Pratt Road and West Jason Road. Traffic through this rural corridor flows freely with negligible congestion outside of special fly-in days or community farm gatherings, allowing seamless ingress and egress. Drivers coming from Lansing or DeWitt can easily travel north via US-127 or Old U.S. 27 before connecting west via Pratt or Jason Road. Travelers coming from Grand Rapids or Ionia can navigate east along M-21 or I-96 to local county roads.

Public mass transit, light rail, and fixed-route city bus services do not run out to this rural quadrant of Clinton County. Visitors rely exclusively on personal motor vehicles, farm and flight support trucks, or private rideshare arrangements (such as Uber or Lyft hailing from DeWitt and Lansing).

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Headroom: Ground-level turf and gravel surface parking with no height restrictions, allowing high-profile vehicles, roof-rack carriers, and trailers.
Direct Airfield & Hangar Proximity: Convenient walking distance to airfield turf runways, staging fields, and flight school briefing areas.
Complimentary Visitor Parking: Free surface parking without automated pay booths, app surcharges, or timed meters for airport patrons and students.
Flexible Maneuvering Space: Wide turning radius accommodating extended wheelbases, equipment haulers, and utility trailers.
Scenic Country Setting: Low-stress, rural atmosphere with clear views of flight takeoffs and landings.

Ideal For

Aviation Students & Pilots: Trainees attending powered paragliding clinics or ultralight aviation courses at FlyMiPPG.
General Aviation Enthusiasts: Visitors and plane spotters watching turf-runway operations, ultralights, and recreational flying.
Trailer & Recreational Haulers: Drivers transporting paragliding gear, paramotor trikes, lawn equipment, or recreational utility trailers.
Rural Clinton County Visitors: Individuals visiting nearby farms, private estates, and seasonal rural events throughout Riley Township.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Unpaved Ground Awareness: Sections of the parking grounds feature grass and packed gravel; exercise caution during early spring thaws, heavy rainstorms, or winter snowdrifts.
Stay Clear of Active Turf Strips: Forest Hill Airport features active turf runways (Runways 9/27 and 18/36); park exclusively in designated staging lots and never drive onto active taxiways or runways.
No Fuel or EV Infrastructure On-Site: Plan your EV charge or gasoline refueling in advance in DeWitt, Westphalia, or St. Johns along major travel corridors.
GPS Navigation Guidance: Enter the full address (7415 S Forest Hill Rd, St Johns, MI 48879) into your mapping app, and keep an eye out for airfield entrance signs and hangars as you approach the property.