Facility Overview

The Iowa DOT Park & Ride lot situated at 1182 160th Ave in Donnellson, Iowa (Lee County) serves as a vital rural transit hub and multi-modal carpooling junction for southeastern Iowa. Maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT District 5), this state-operated commuter facility features an open-air surface layout designed for rapid, stress-free vehicle turnarounds and long-duration commuter staging. The facility is fully open to the elements with no overhead structures, providing completely unobstructed vertical clearance. This wide-open layout ensures effortless parking and maneuvering for all vehicle types, ranging from compact passenger cars, electric vehicles, and family minivans to oversized heavy-duty pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, service utility vehicles, high-roof conversion vans, and passenger shuttles.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically situated in northern Lee County just north of downtown Donnellson and moments from Houghton, this Park & Ride location is an indispensable staging post for regional employees, day visitors, and cross-county commuters. Within a 10-minute drive south is central Donnellson, home to the historic Lee County Fairgrounds—which hosts the landmark annual Lee County Fair, livestock shows, and motorsports—as well as central community hubs, Central Lee Community Schools, and local diners. Approximately 15 to 20 miles to the east along the regional corridor lies historic Fort Madison on the banks of the Mississippi River, renowned for Old Fort Madison, the Santa Fe Depot Historic Complex, and major industrial centers such as Roquette America and Siemens Gamesa. Heading north along US-218 brings travelers directly to Mount Pleasant (home to the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion grounds and regional retail centers), while heading south connects seamlessly to Keokuk, the Mississippi River Lock and Dam No. 19, and the Keokuk National Cemetery. Outdoor enthusiasts also take advantage of this lot when meeting up for group outings to the nearby Shimek State Forest and Geode State Park.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The facility provides clean ingress and egress directly off 160th Avenue (Lee County Road W55), ensuring seamless entry even during morning and evening rush hours. The site sits within immediate striking distance of the region's primary arterial network, offering straightforward connections to Iowa Highway 16, Iowa Highway 2, and the high-speed US Route 218 / Iowa Highway 27 corridor—the Avenue of the Saints expressway linking St. Louis, Missouri to Cedar Rapids and St. Paul, Minnesota. The lot serves as an official carpooling and vanpool point, coordinated informally by regional commuter groups and local enterprise shuttles. Furthermore, regional demand-response transit operators such as Southeast Iowa Bus (SEIBUS), managed by the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission (SEIRPC), can utilize rural transit park-and-ride points to facilitate rides for rural residents needing non-emergency medical, employment, and personal transit across Lee, Henry, and Des Moines counties.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• 100% Free Public Commuter Parking provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation with no hourly, daily, or permit charges.
• Open-air surface parking bays configured for wide turns, spacious door clearance, and standard single-vehicle stalls.
• Unrestricted vertical clearance accommodating lifted trucks, utility cargo carriers, roof racks, and tall passenger vans.
• 24/7 continuous year-round access accommodating early shift workers, healthcare professionals, and late-night return trips.
• Designated accessible parking spaces featuring level grade access suitable for mobility-impaired motorists.
• Prominent Iowa DOT roadway signage clearly demarcating entry points along county route approaches.
• Low-traffic rural entry enabling rapid, congestion-free departure following carpool rendezvous.

Ideal For

• Daily regional commuters and industrial workforce carpoolers commuting to manufacturing plants and medical centers in Fort Madison, Burlington, Keokuk, and Mount Pleasant.
• Vanpool participants and multi-county rideshare groups seeking a safe, central meeting spot along the US-218 / Avenue of the Saints travel corridor.
• Fairgoers, rodeo fans, and festival attendees heading to large seasonal gatherings at the Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson.
• Recreational motorists, campers, and hunters meeting to consolidate vehicles before traveling into Shimek State Forest or along the Des Moines River water trails.
• Long-distance road trippers needing an easy, cost-free driver swap location or daylight regroup point in southeast Iowa.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Parking at this Iowa DOT facility is completely free of charge, with no parking meters, physical ticketing gates, or smartphone parking apps (such as ParkMobile or SpotHero) required. Because the lot is an unstaffed rural commuter lot, drivers are strongly advised to lock all doors, roll up windows completely, and remove or conceal all personal valuables before leaving vehicles unattended for the day. Commuters planning carpools during winter months should consult Iowa 511 road conditions prior to arrival; while the Iowa DOT District 5 maintenance teams prioritize state routes, rural county roads can experience snow accumulation during blizzard conditions. If you are coordinating a pickup or group rendezvous, confirm your travel companion's vehicle description in advance, as open lot parking operates on a first-come, first-served basis.