ST PAUL, Minn. — There's only one month left until the start of the Minnesota State Fair and we can already smell the Pronto Pups cooking.
Getting to St. Paul and finding a place to park is often the toughest part of a trip to the Great Minnesota Get-Together, as organizers said on an average fair day more than 150,000 can be there.
Thankfully, the State Fair compiled a list of free and low-cost ways to travel to the fairgrounds.
“On some days and at certain times, we know that traffic and parking can get congested, so we encourage guests to have a Plan B and C if their preferred lot or route is unavailable," said Minnesota State Fair CEO Renee Alexander. "There are many options to choose from, and we encourage fair fans to explore all of them ahead of time.”
The fair runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 2. Tickets are on sale now on the State Fair's website.
State Fair Park and Ride
Starting every morning of the fair at 8:00, guests can leave their vehicles at one of 31 lots near the Fairgrounds and ride a free shuttle to the gates.
Express Bus Service
Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) and SouthWest Transit partner with the State Fair to offer this service. For a small fee, guests can park further from St. Paul and take a bus directly to and from the fairgrounds.
The price varies by provider and cost the same as last year. These sites are located in Blaine, Bloomington, Cottage Grove, Maplewood, Minnetonka and Maple Grove. All lots except Maple Gove will operate all the days of the fair; Maple Grove will be open on weekends and Labor Day.
Round-trip tickets can be purchased in advance through Metro Transit’s website or app for $5 and you can buy cash-only fares at boarding locations for $6.
Find more information about the State Fair Express Bus Service, including fares and locations, here.
Metro Transit Regular Bus Service
For fairgoers in the Twin Cities, Metro Transit has three regular bus routes with stops nearby. The METRO A Line, Route 3 on Como Avenue and Route 61 on Larpenteur Avenue are the services recommended by the State Fair.
Buying an All-Day pass gives unlimited rides until 2 a.m. on the date after purchase.
Rideshare: Uber, Lyft, Taxis
There are two designated drop-off and pick-up points for rideshare riders, located at the north and south ends of the fairgrounds. This year the area was reconfigured and expanded to make space for more vehicles.
Taxi pick up and drop off is located at the Loop Gate (#9) on Como Avenue on the south end of the fairgrounds.
On-Site Parking for Cars, Bicycles and Motorcycles
The Minnesota State Fair offers around 5,000 parking spaces in lots on the north, west and south ends of the fairgrounds. Just like last year, the fee for on-site parking is $20.
Motorcycle parking is located in a secure lot on the south side of Como Avenue and costs $15.
For bicycles, three free, secure and monitored bike parking areas are available on the north, west and south ends of the fairgrounds. There is space for more than 900 bikes.
Neighborhood Parking
If you've ever been to the State Fair, you've noticed the fairgrounds are plunked down in the middle of a St. Paul neighborhood. Many people open their driveways and yards as parking places, for a fee.
The State Fair wants to remind everyone that every city has its own parking policies and guests should be mindful of various restrictions. Please be a good neighbor and don't litter, be loud or block driveways, alleys or emergency lanes.
