Facility Overview

The Iowa DOT Park & Ride located at 1789 County Road J40 in Donnellson, Iowa, provides a strategically positioned, free public staging area serving commuters and travelers across southeastern Iowa. Situated just northwest of the intersection of County Road J40 (160th Street) and U.S. Route 218 / Iowa Highway 27—the renowned Avenue of the Saints corridor—this facility occupies a dedicated section of the historic highway alignment. Constructed as an open-air surface lot, the layout offers generous maneuvering space and straightforward pull-in parking stalls designed to accommodate a diverse spectrum of personal and utility vehicles. Drivers operating standard sedans, compact hatchbacks, half-ton to one-ton pickup trucks (such as Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, and Ram models), extended SUVs, and high-roof conversion vans can park with complete confidence. Because this is an open-sky facility with zero overhead structures or low-hanging clearance barriers, there are no vertical clearance limits, making it exceptionally accommodating for taller vehicles, service vans, and passenger vehicles equipped with rooftop cargo carriers or bicycle racks.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

While nestled in a tranquil rural setting, the Park & Ride lot serves as a vital crossroad connecting several historic communities, regional industrial parks, and outdoor destinations across Lee and Van Buren counties. The center of Donnellson is located just four miles to the south, home to the Lee County Fairgrounds—a regional destination hosting the annual Lee County Fair, auto racing, livestock expositions, and 4-H events. Nearby outdoor attractions include Shimek State Forest, situated roughly 10 miles to the west, providing thousands of acres for hiking, equestrian trail riding, fishing, and camping. Agritourism enthusiasts frequently pass this junction en route to Harvestville Farm (5 miles south on IA-2), celebrated for seasonal pumpkin patches, farm-to-table dining events, and family activities. Furthermore, this lot functions as an essential mid-point connection to Fort Madison (14 miles east), where visitors explore Historic Old Fort Madison on the Mississippi River, Riverview Park, and the multi-sport Baxter Sports Complex. Traveling north along U.S. 218 leads directly to Mount Pleasant (20 miles), home to Iowa Wesleyan history and the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion grounds, while Keokuk and the Mississippi River Lock and Dam No. 19 lie approximately 22 miles to the south.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Accessing the Iowa DOT Park & Ride is smooth and effortless from any direction. Ingress and egress are situated directly off County Road J40 (160th Street), mere yards from the ramps and grade intersection of U.S. Route 218 / Iowa Highway 27. The divided four-lane Avenue of the Saints highway delivers swift regional access north toward Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo, and south toward Keokuk and St. Louis, Missouri. The entryway apron is wide, providing clear sightlines and hassle-free deceleration when turning off County Road J40. During morning and evening commuter hours, traffic flow remains steady without the debilitating congestion typical of major metropolitan centers, allowing carpoolers and vanpoolers to merge back into highway traffic swiftly. Although fixed-route city transit does not operate in this rural section, the facility serves as a primary rendezvous hub for informal carpools, vanpools, and regional employer shuttle meets coordinated by local agricultural, manufacturing, and industrial workforces commuting to facilities in Fort Madison, Burlington, Keokuk, and Mount Pleasant.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Paved, open-air surface parking with clearly delineated stalls and wide drive lanes.
• Zero height restrictions and open-sky headroom, accommodating lifted pickups, high-top vans, and roof-racked vehicles.
• 100% free public parking provided and maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation with no ticketing or permits required.
• Continuous 24-hour access, seven days a week, accommodating early morning and late-night shift workers.
• Designated ADA accessible parking stalls conveniently positioned near the entry/exit turnaround.
• Wide turnaround apron suitable for passenger drop-offs, rideshare pickups, and three-point turns.
• Direct highway line-of-sight and strategic visibility from County Road J40 for enhanced driver safety.

Ideal For

• Daily work commuters and carpool partners commuting along the Avenue of the Saints corridor between Mount Pleasant, Donnellson, Fort Madison, and Keokuk.
• Agricultural, trade, and industrial plant shift workers organizing shared rides to regional manufacturing hubs.
• Visitors and families attending multi-day festivities at the Lee County Fairgrounds or Midwest Old Threshers grounds.
• Outdoor adventurers, hunters, and horseback riders staging before heading into Shimek State Forest.
• Cross-state travelers seeking a dependable, quiet spot to rotate drivers, consult GPS routing, or coordinate travel itineraries.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Take advantage of free parking: Unlike urban commuter lots, this facility does not require mobile parking apps (such as ParkMobile or SpotHero) or parking permits; you simply park within a marked stall.
• Mind winter weather conditions: In winter months, rural Iowa can experience drifting snow and ice; while state and county road crews prioritize main routes, exercise caution around unplowed edges or icy spots during active winter storms.
• Follow rideshare safety etiquette: If parking your vehicle for a full workday or multi-day trip, lock all doors, roll windows up tight, and stow GPS equipment, electronics, tools, and personal valuables completely out of sight.
• GPS navigation check: Ensure your GPS targets 1789 County Road J40 (sometimes referenced locally as 160th Street or old Highway 103) right at the U.S. 218 interchange to avoid turning into adjacent farm lanes.
• Coordinate meeting spots clearly: If rendezvous with travel companions or carpool partners, agree to meet on either the north or south side of the lot, especially during dusk or early morning dawn hours when illumination relies on vehicle headlamps and natural ambient light.