Directions & Parking

Directions

Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park

From I-235 East, take Exit 7A (MLK Jr Pkwy / 19th St), continue south as the road becomes Fleur Drive, and follow Fleur Drive to Water Works Park—across from Gray’s Lake Park. Follow the onsite signs to parking and your event entrance.

From I-235 West, take Exit 7A (MLK Jr Pkwy / 19th St) and continue south as the road becomes Fleur Drive. Follow Fleur Drive to Water Works Park, located across from Gray’s Lake Park, then follow onsite signage to parking and your event entrance.

From IA-5/US-65, take EXIT 97, the Fleur Drive (County Road R57) exit. Fleur Drive north and continue toward downtown Des Moines. Water Works Park will be on your right along Fleur Drive, directly across from Gray’s Lake Park—turn into the Park and follow onsite signage to parking and your event entrance.

Going to one of the Willis Summer Series concerts? Check back for more information on transportation & parking in the spring of 2026.

Parking

Parking at Water Works Park is available in multiple onsite lots throughout the Park, with nearby parking access to the Lauridsen Amphitheater and Killinger Family Stage. ADA accessible parking is available in the parking lot directly south of the amphitheater for convenient entry.

Plan to arrive early during concerts and peak event times for the smoothest entry and shortest walk. Parking lots open two hours before the gatesopen and close one hour after the show has ended. Tailgating is not allowed in Water Works Park parking lots.

For significant events and ticketed concerts, parking operations may be activated and adjusted based on event size and site conditions.

For select concert events, Water Works Park also offers cashless, prepaid parking reservations through the imClutch/Clutch app, allowing guests to purchase parking in advance and enter by scanning a QR code at the lot—helping reduce delays and streamline arrival.

Download the imClutch app to prepay and reserve your parking space. It’s all on your phone, making the process convenient and hassle-free. No more waiting for change or realizing you’re out of cash. We’ll scan your QR Code and get you to the lot so you can enjoy the Park before the show.

Through the imClutch app, you can purchase parking in the VIP lot, ADA Accessible Lot, or even offsite at the Bell Avenue Business Suites or Exile Brewing Company, when offered. This variety of options empowers you to choose the most convenient parking for your needs, and you can hop on a shuttle to the Park. To reserve your parking, click here.

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft operate throughout Des Moines and can get you to the Park and back to your destination. Each ride app service drops off passengers at the Des Moines Water Works administration building entrance and picks them up there as well. 2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50321.

Shuttles

Exile Brewing Shuttle Park offsite with available street or public ramp parking (south of the railroad tracks on SW 16th), walk to Exile Brewing, 1514 Walnut Street, to check in, then ride the shuttle to Water Works Park and back after the show. Purchase your shuttle tickets in advance through imClutch or onsite at Exile Brewing. Shuttle service starts one hour before the announced show time. The last shuttle departs Water Works Park thirty minutes after the end of the show.

Bell Avenue Business Suites Shuttle (Select Concerts): Prepay for offsite parking at Bell Avenue Business Suites through imClutch, then take the shuttle to Water Works Park/Lauridsen Amphitheater and ride it back after the show. Availability varies by event.