Facility Overview

Bennett Park is a tranquil 75-acre public county park situated at 1378 Yankee Avenue near Bennett in east-central Cedar County, Iowa. Managed by the Cedar County Conservation Board, the park features expansive, open-air gravel and graded surface parking areas positioned to serve daytime park visitors, anglers, and overnight campers. Because the facility is entirely open-air with no multi-level decks or covered archways, there are zero overhead height clearance restrictions. The broad access lanes and generous turning radii make parking effortless for standard passenger cars, oversized pickup trucks, SUVs, utility trailers, and full-size recreational vehicles (RVs) and travel trailers.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Bennett Park serves as an essential outdoor recreational haven for residents of Bennett, New Liberty, Durant, and nearby Tipton. Key features located directly on-site within footsteps of the parking zones include:

• Bennett Park Fishing Pond: A serene pond stocked with local fish species, equipped with shore access for fishing and nature viewing.
• Native Prairie and Walking Trails: Winding grass and dirt paths through restored prairie grounds, offering wildlife observation and birdwatching.
• Bennett Park Shelters & Playground: Two enclosed shelters and one open picnic shelter paired with modern playground structures, ideal for community outings and family gatherings.
• Cedar County Rural Corridor: Located a short driving distance from historic downtown Bennett and approximately 20 minutes from the Cedar County seat in Tipton.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular ingress and egress to Bennett Park is managed seamlessly via Yankee Avenue, a low-traffic rural roadway connected to Cedar County Route F44 and Iowa Highway 130. The entry drive provides straightforward sightlines with minimal traffic congestion, allowing drivers pulling heavy trailers or large campers to enter and exit without maneuvering difficulties. While there is no fixed-route municipal public transit serving this rural territory, the park lies within a 15- to 20-minute drive north of Interstate 80, placing it within convenient reach of both the Quad Cities metro area and Iowa City.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Spacious, open-air surface parking adjacent to trailheads, picnic pavilions, and campground loops.
• Unrestricted vertical clearance accommodating big-rig RVs, fifth-wheels, and high-clearance utility vehicles.
• Designated ADA accessible parking spots located near primary picnic shelters and modern restroom facilities.
• Modern campground infrastructure nearby, featuring electrical hookups, community water sources, and dump station access.
• Sheltered picnic pavilions equipped with picnic tables and charcoal grills.
• Safe, well-kept grounds monitored through periodic Cedar County Conservation staff and ranger patrols.

Ideal For

• Anglers and local outdoor enthusiasts heading out for bank fishing and pond recreation.
• Campers, RV travelers, and road-trippers seeking a peaceful, low-cost overnight haven with easy pull-in access.
• Families and civic groups hosting birthday parties, family reunions, and weekend cookouts at reserved shelters.
• Hikers, dog walkers, and trail runners looking for quiet, uncrowded paths through native Iowa prairies.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Daytime vehicle parking across the park grounds is free of charge and operated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you plan to reserve an enclosed shelter or stay overnight at one of the 15+ campground spots, arrange your reservations ahead of time via the Cedar County Conservation Board portal. When driving along Yankee Avenue during spring and autumn, remain alert for slow-moving farm machinery and local wildlife crossing the roadway. Visitors are encouraged to observe park rules, respect the 10:30 PM park curfew for day-use areas, and pack out all personal trash to preserve this pristine prairie sanctuary.