Facility Overview

AirVenture J-Lot (also widely recognized as the Gold Lot) is an expansive, open-air surface parking facility situated in the Town of Nekimi, adjacent to the southern perimeter of Wittman Regional Airport and the world-famous Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention grounds. Designed to handle peak-capacity vehicular traffic during the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention and regional aviation events, the facility features a well-marshaled grass and packed-turf layout with marked lanes and dedicated driving rows. Because it is completely open-air with zero overhead structures or low-hanging clearance barriers, standard passenger sedans, full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, and extended-wheelbase passenger vans can easily park without height limitations. Drivers of lowered sports vehicles should exercise minor caution over uneven turf surfaces, especially following heavy Midwest rain.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically positioned just moments from the primary aviation corridors of Oshkosh, the Gold Lot serves as a vital staging ground for attendees heading to the airshow grounds. Key points of interest and destinations nearby include:

• EAA Aviation Museum & Pioneer Airport: Located a short tram ride or 5-to-10-minute drive north, featuring historic aircraft exhibits, flight simulators, and hands-on aviation education.
• Wittman Regional Airport Flightline: Direct shuttle and tram connectivity links J-Lot to the flightlines, warbird viewing areas, homebuilt showcase aircraft, and the showcase daily airshow runways.
• Camp Scholler: The massive, vibrant campground community hosting thousands of aviators and aviation enthusiasts directly adjacent to the convention grounds.
• Boeing Plaza & Main Gate Convention Exhibits: The epicenter of vendor hangars, modern aerospace reveals, and military fly-in displays.
• South Woods Nature Preserve & Lake Winnebago: Just a brief drive east, offering scenic freshwater relaxation and green recreational spaces away from the airfield buzz.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The Gold Lot is conveniently accessed via regional thoroughfares including Knapp Street, Ripple Avenue, and Poberezny Road, with fast connections to Interstate 41 (I-41) via WIS-44 (South Park Avenue) or WIS-26. During convention operational days, dedicated traffic management personnel and local law enforcement establish efficient one-way traffic routing patterns to streamline morning ingress and evening post-airshow egress. While fixed municipal heavy rail does not service this rural airfield sector, the EAA operates an extensive, complimentary shuttle bus and tram network that circulates continually between J-Lot/Gold Lot, main entry gates, registration pavilions, and central display plazas.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Expansive open-air grass and gravel surface layout offering ample vehicle spacing.
• Unrestricted vertical clearance accommodating tall SUVs, rooftop cargo carriers, and high-profile vans.
• On-site traffic marshals and parking guides directing vehicles into orderly rows for rapid parking and exit.
• Designated accessible ADA parking areas located closest to the tram loading pavilions.
• Frequent on-site EAA shuttle/tram pick-up stations providing direct transport to convention entrance gates.
• Temporary portable restroom facilities and basic waste disposal receptacles situated near transit stops.
• Direct highway access minimizing city street bottlenecks when arriving from I-41.

Ideal For

• Daily visitors attending the world-renowned EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in and airshows.
• Aviation enthusiasts, families, and photographers needing convenient day parking with swift tram links to the flightline.
• Drivers of tall utility vehicles, full-size pickups, and camper-style passenger vans needing wide open headroom.
• Regional commuters arriving from Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, or Fond du Lac along the I-41 corridor.

Visitor & Driver Tips

To ensure a stress-free parking experience during major events, plan to arrive before 8:00 AM, well ahead of the afternoon showcase airshows, to secure favorable positions near the shuttle tram stops. Daily and weekly parking permits can frequently be purchased in advance online through official EAA AirVenture portals, which speeds up entry gate processing. Because row markers across wide-open grass airfields can blend together after sunset, pin your vehicle\'s GPS location on your smartphone or snap a photo of your nearest numbered row flag before boarding the tram. If attending the Wednesday or Saturday night airshows, expect heavier post-show egress delays and consider relaxing by your vehicle while initial outbound congestion clears along the Knapp Street and Highway 44 corridors.