Facility Overview

The Park & Ride facility at 1069 E Washington Road in Ithaca, Michigan, serves as a primary regional commuter facility in Gratiot County. Maintained as part of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Carpool Parking Lot Program, this open-air surface parking lot provides a centralized, no-cost meeting point for motorists traversing the US-127 corridor. The lot features an organized layout with asphalt paving, painted parking stalls, and wide driving aisles engineered for easy maneuvering.

Because the facility is an outdoor, uncovered lot, there are no vertical clearance barriers or low overhangs to negotiate. This open headroom makes the facility suitable for standard passenger sedans, crossover utility vehicles, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and high-roof commuter passenger vans. In accordance with MDOT rideshare lot regulations, the facility is designated strictly for commuter parking and carpools; commercial semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, oversized motorhomes, and recreational vehicle camping are prohibited.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically positioned at the junction of US-127 and East Washington Road (Exit 117), this car park links the rural Gratiot County community with major regional destinations across Central Michigan:

• Downtown Ithaca & Gratiot County Courthouse: Located approximately 1.5 miles west down Washington Road, Ithaca's historic city center features the Gratiot County Courthouse, local municipal offices, dining spots, and boutique businesses.
• Alma & Alma College: Positioned just 8 miles north via US-127, offering convenient staging for students, faculty, and eventgoers attending lectures, athletic matchups, and arts events at Alma College.
• Mount Pleasant & Central Michigan University (CMU): Located roughly 25 miles north, providing an organized staging point for CMU alumni, concertgoers, and visitors heading to Kelly/Shorts Stadium, McGuirk Arena, and the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.
• Greater Lansing Metropolitan Area: Situated approximately 40 miles south, allowing daily capital-city commuters and Michigan State University (MSU) eventgoers to gather and share transit into Ingham County.
• Local Traveler Services: Immediate adjacent amenities at Exit 117 include the Beacon & Bridge Market travel center and nearby fuel and fast-casual food stations for quick refreshments before hitting the highway.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Navigating to and from the Ithaca Park & Ride is simple due to its highway adjacent footprint. Ingress and egress are situated directly off East Washington Road, just west of the US-127 on- and off-ramps. Drivers exiting the freeway encounter minimal congestion, and entering traffic moves fluidly even during weekday peak morning (6:30 AM – 8:30 AM) and evening (4:30 PM – 6:30 PM) commute hours.

The facility serves as an essential nexus for informal carpools, organized vanpools, and regional ridesharing initiatives across Mid-Michigan. Local county transit providers, such as Alma Dial-A-Ride Transit and county paratransit operators, interface throughout the surrounding municipality, allowing riders to transition from rural feeder roadways onto major north-south transit arteries.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• 100% Free Commuter Parking: Completely complimentary public parking with no meter fees, ticketing gates, or daily parking charges.
• Open-Air Surface Lot: Expansive open-sky configuration with no vertical height limitations, catering to lifted pickups, commercial passenger vans, and vehicles with rooftop utility carriers.
• Dusk-to-Dawn Area Lighting: Mounted overhead light poles provide visibility during early-morning drop-offs and late-night pick-ups.
• Accessible Parking: Dedicated ADA-compliant parking stalls marked with upright signage located close to entrance aisles.
• Straightforward Traffic Circulation: Wide bidirectional lanes that facilitate smooth turning radii, two-way passing, and uncomplicated snowplow clearing in winter months.

Ideal For

• Daily Regional Commuters: Professionals commuting along US-127 toward Lansing, Mount Pleasant, St. Louis, or Alma seeking to split fuel expenses.
• College Students & Faculty: Individuals commuting to Alma College or Central Michigan University campuses.
• Game-Day & Concert Carpoolers: Groups traveling together to collegiate sporting events, stadium games, or casino showroom concerts to reduce urban destination parking costs.
• Carpool & Rideshare Meetups: Local residents consolidating into a single vehicle for long-distance trips across the Lower Peninsula.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Observe Time Limit Regulations: Under standard MDOT carpool guidelines, vehicles should generally not remain parked continuously beyond 48 to 72 hours. Vehicles left for prolonged durations without movement risk being flagged by law enforcement as abandoned.
• Winter Weather Awareness: During Central Michigan winter weather, MDOT and local road crews plow the lot during significant snowfalls; park evenly between the marked lines so maintenance plows can clear drive aisles effectively.
• Secure Personal Belongings: This is a public, un-gated rural lot without on-site security attendants. Drivers should lock their doors, roll up windows completely, and stow any valuables out of plain view.
• GPS Navigation Pointer: Program navigation devices specifically for Exit 117 off US-127 at East Washington Road to enter the access driveway on the north side of the roadway.