Facility Overview

The Park & Ride facility situated along Hale Road (M-65) in Turner, Michigan (Arenac County) is a dedicated public commuter and carpool facility established by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to serve rural commuters, regional workers, and outdoor enthusiasts traversing northeastern Lower Michigan. Configured as an open-air surface parking facility, this carpool lot features an unobstructed, single-level asphalt pavement layout designed for seamless vehicle maneuverability. Because it is completely open-air without overhead decking, overhangs, or height-restricting structural barriers, the lot offers unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it exceptionally well-suited not only for standard sedans, compact hatchbacks, and crossover SUVs, but also for full-sized pickup trucks, heavy-duty commercial utility vans, lifted four-wheel-drive vehicles, and recreational passenger haulers commonly operated throughout northern Michigan.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically situated in northern Arenac County right along the border of Iosco County, this Park & Ride serves as a central waypoint between quiet agricultural communities and renowned Pure Michigan recreational landscapes. Within direct driving proximity are the quaint rural centers of Turner, Twining, and Whittemore, providing convenient access to local conveniences, neighborhood diners, and country markets. Outdoor sports enthusiasts frequently utilize this hub as a launch and staging point for excursions into the southern expanses of the Huron-Manistee National Forests, situated just a short drive to the north. Water enthusiasts and anglers will appreciate quick access to premier fishing along the Au Gres River and the Rifle River watershed, while the coastal resort destinations of Lake Huron—including Au Gres harbor, Tawas Bay, and Tawas Point State Park—are situated roughly 20 to 25 minutes to the east and northeast. Furthermore, regional visitors heading to seasonal agricultural events, county fairs in Standish and Hale, or the Huron Sno-Blazers snowmobile trails find this staging area immensely convenient.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress at the facility are straightforward, courtesy of wide, clearly marked highway aprons connecting directly to Hale Road / Highway M-65. The rural traffic profile ensures fluid vehicle movement free from metropolitan gridlock, allowing motorists to enter, turn around, and exit smoothly even during early morning and late afternoon commute hours. Strategically positioned along State Trunkline M-65, the facility provides an uninterrupted north-south arterial link that connects directly to US-23 near Omer to the south and extends northward past M-55 toward Hale, Glennie, and Curran. Drivers bound for major employment centers in the Tri-Cities region (Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland) can travel south along M-65 to US-23 and Interstate 75. While traditional scheduled fixed-route municipal transit does not run through this rural sector, the facility serves as an essential regional transfer point for carpools, vanpools, rideshare meetups, and coordinated rural paratransit services operated through Arenac County and Iosco County public transit agencies.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Paved open-sky surface parking with clearly delineated parking bays.
• Unlimited vertical clearance accommodating tall utility trucks, vans, roof racks, and high-profile SUVs.
• Free public commuter parking maintained under the state carpool lot program.
• Designated ADA-compliant accessible parking spaces situated near entry access points.
• Overhead dusk-to-dawn area lighting illuminating the parking apron during evening and pre-dawn hours.
• MDOT highway directional signage along M-65 providing advance notice for arriving drivers.
• On-site waste disposal receptacles for commuter convenience.

Ideal For

• Daily regional commuters and workplace vanpools traveling south toward Bay City, Midland, or Saginaw.
• Outdoor recreationists, kayakers, and hunters carpooling into Huron-Manistee National Forest or nearby state game areas.
• Contractors, tradespeople, and rural field personnel meeting colleagues to travel in single work trucks.
• Seasonal travelers and road-trippers coordinating multi-vehicle rendezvous points along the M-65 corridor.
• Carpoolers seeking safe, free, off-highway parking to consolidate travel expenses.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Parking at this state-maintained facility is completely free of charge, with no permit or mobile payment app required.
• MDOT carpool regulations permit short-term commuter stays (typically up to 48 to 72 hours); avoid leaving vehicles unoccupied long-term to prevent municipal towing or safety inspections.
• Exercise heightened caution during winter months; while the lot is maintained, blowing snow and ice can accumulate between plow passes in northern Arenac County.
• Secure all valuables out of plain view within your locked vehicle, as this is a self-monitored, unattended rural commuter facility.
• Enter coordinates (44.140795, -83.807638) directly into your GPS unit or navigation application for precise routing along Hale Road / M-65.