Facility Overview

The MDOT Public Carpool Lot on North Burkhart Road in Howell, Michigan, is an official Michigan Department of Transportation park-and-ride facility strategically located at the junction of Interstate 96 (Exit 133) and Burkhart Road. Designed primarily to encourage vehicle pooling, vanpools, and efficient regional commuting, this open-air surface parking facility provides drivers with a clean, paved, and easily accessible staging area. Because it is an outdoor grade-level lot without overhead garage decks or structural barriers, there are no vertical clearance restrictions, making it exceptionally accommodating for full-size pickup trucks, commercial service vans, high-roof cargo vans, SUVs, and passenger vehicles alike.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated in Livingston County on Howell\'s western commercial corridor, the carpool lot is bordered by vital retail, dining, and travel services:

• Tanger Outlets Howell: Located less than one mile north along Burkhart Road, featuring popular designer outlets, retail shopping, and casual food options within a 2-minute drive.
• Downtown Howell: Situated roughly 3.5 miles east, offering historic charm, local boutiques, seasonal festivals like the Howell Melon Festival, and diverse dining around Michigan Avenue and Grand River Avenue.
• Local Commercial Conveniences: Immediate proximity to traveler services including nearby fuel stations, convenience marts, fast-casual restaurants, and retail centers along the I-96 and Burkhart interchange.
• Livingston County Commuter Corridors: Serves as an ideal central rendezvous point for professionals commuting east toward Brighton, Novi, and Metro Detroit, or west toward Lansing and East Lansing.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Access to the lot is straightforward via North Burkhart Road, just off the ramps of Interstate 96 at Exit 133. The ingress and egress points offer wide turning aprons suitable for large vehicles, ensuring smooth traffic flow even during morning and evening rush hours. For regional drivers, I-96 delivers direct high-speed connectivity eastward toward Interstate 275 and Interstate 696, and westward toward Michigan State University and the State Capitol in Lansing. The lot is regularly utilized by organized commuter carpools, regional vanpools (such as MichiVan programs), and local ride-matching travelers.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• 100% Free Commuter Parking: State-operated lot with no hourly fees, meters, or permit passes required for daily carpoolers.
• Unrestricted Overhead Clearance: Open-air layout allows effortless parking for high-profile vehicles, ladder racks, and work trucks.
• Accessible Stalls: Designated ADA-accessible parking spaces located close to the lot entrance.
• Paved & Striped Surface: Asphalt pavement marked with clear directional lines and parking bays.
• Overnight Lighting: High-mast overhead illumination providing visibility across the lot during early morning and late evening transfers.
• 24/7 Availability: Accessible continuously every day of the week to accommodate non-standard shift workers and weekend travelers.

Ideal For

• Daily Commuters: Workers organizing carpools along the I-96 corridor toward Lansing, Brighton, Ann Arbor, or the greater Detroit metropolitan area.
• State & University Commuters: Convenient meeting spot for state employees and students heading to Lansing or Michigan State University.
• Shoppers & Visitors: Convenient meetup and staging point for group trips to nearby shopping centers or downtown events.
• Commercial Drivers & Contractors: Field crews consolidating multiple work trucks into a single shared vehicle for regional job sites.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Because this is a public commuter carpool lot, spaces operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking spaces fill rapidly between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM on typical Tuesday-through-Thursday workdays. To maintain personal vehicle security, lock all doors, roll up windows completely, and avoid leaving GPS devices, tools, or valuable belongings in plain sight. Note that while short-term parking and multi-day carpooling are generally permitted, vehicles must be road-legal, properly registered, and not left abandoned or used for commercial equipment storage.