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.

Blue Line Parking Shuttle Map

Fairgrounds Map

Bicycle parking is also available inside Gate 11 for free.

Taxis, Uber & 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. 

Fairgoers can park their car for free at one of three convenient locations around the metro and catch a ride to the Fair. Services available from 8 a.m. to midnight (service to the Fair will end at 9 p.m. on Sunday, August 17). Shuttles drop off and pick up at Gate 10 on the Fairgrounds (DART Transit Hub) sponsored by Select Iowa Buick GMC Dealers.

*Routes subject to change based on busing services, road construction or traffic.

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)

Bus Ticket Prices

The cost of each ticket covers the ride to the Fair and back. One-way tickets are available on request.

  • Regular (ages 10 and up) - $3
  • Children (6 – 10) - $1
  • Seniors (65 and up), Medicare Card Holders - $1
  • Children 5 and Under - Free

All buses are accessible by mobility devices. For shuttle ticket prices and more information about DART Park & Ride Services visit rideDART.com/fair or contact DART Customer Service at 515-283-8100.