Parking / DART Park & Ride
Getting to the Fair is easy. You can pay to park in the Fair's lots, park for free and ride DART's State Fair Park & Ride shuttle or arrive via motor coach. Once you arrive, "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair!
Vehicle Parking
Parking lots are available for motorcycle and vehicle parking in the A, B and C Lots for $10. Fairgoers can take the Blue Line Parking Shuttle inside the A, B and C parking lots for FREE from designated stops to the admission gates.
Bicycle parking is also available inside Gate 11 for free.
TAXIS, UBER AND LYFT
Taxis, Uber and Lyft will be available at Gate 8 for pick up and drop off. Please have your driver use the GPS address of 203 Rock Island, Des Moines, Iowa 50317 when trying to locate the drop off and pick up location.
MOTORCYCLE PARKING
Three parking lots are available for motorcycle or vehicle parking at $10 per vehicle. Motorcycles may park in any lot, but the northeast corner of Lot A (between the Gate 1 and Gate 2 entrances) has an area designated and roped off for motorcycles. Bicycle parking is available inside Gate 11 for free.
DART PARK & RIDE
Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) offers shuttle services to and from the Fairgrounds. Parking is free at all DART Park & Ride locations.
DART Park & Ride Locations
- 7th & Center St. Park & Ride (830 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309)
- Iowa State Capitol Building (Located on E 12th St., between E Grand Ave. & E Walnut St.)
- Southeast Polk High School
(7945 N E University Ave, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327)
Service is provided from 8 a.m. to midnight during the Fair. Shuttles drop off and pick up at Gate 10 on the Fairgrounds. Round-trip tickets are available from booths at shuttle locations or can be purchased in advance on the MyDART app starting August 1, 2024.
DART Tickets
- Regular – $2 (Single ticket gets you there and back)
- Discounted – $1 (Children 6-10, persons 65+, or persons with disabilities)
- Free – Children 5 and under (free ticket required for boarding)
- One-way tickets are available by request.
Receive an additional half-off your DART shuttle tickets when you purchase them through the MyDART app, available on iOS and Android. Tickets available starting August 1, 2024.
NOTE: As of 2024, showing Fair advance admission tickets will no longer provide any additional discounts. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
All DART Park & Ride shuttle services are ADA accessible, including for wheelchairs and other electric mobility devices.
For more details, visit ridedart.com/fair or email dart@ridedart.com.