Here’s how to get to the State Fair

It can take some planning to get to the State Fair.

Here’s what you need to know about transit and parking options.

Park-and-ride, Express Bus options

There are 34 free park-and-ride options offered during the Fair.

Buses run from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. on Labor Day). The last bus to the Fair runs at 8 p.m. (6 p.m. on Labor Day) and the last one leaves the Fair to return to a park-and-ride lot at 11:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. on Labor Day). Times vary based on traffic and crowds. Grandstand shows typically end between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., with the last show on Labor Day ending at 4 p.m.

Metro Transit park-and-ride locations can be found in Blaine, Maplewood, Minnetonka, Bloomington, Cottage Grove and Maple Grove, with Maple Grove service only available on weekends and Labor Day.

For more information go to mnstatefair.org/get-here/free-park-and-ride.

There’s also service from Express Bus provided by Metro Transit as well as Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and SouthWest Transit. All Express service is wheelchair accessible.

For information on these options go to mnstatefair.org/get-here/metro-transit/.

New this year — service begins at 7 a.m. from all three Minnesota Valley Authority Express Bus Service stations.

Bus fare through Metro Transit app, parking updates

Those purchasing tickets through the Metro Transit app can get a small discount. A round-trip ticket costs $5 through the app or their website and $6 at boarding locations.

For real-time updates, such as on parking lot capacity, visit Metro Transit’s social media on Facebook and its alerts-only feed on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Falcon Heights street parking

The Falcon Heights City Council voted in May to create temporary paid parking zones during the Fair, making around 1,000 parking spots near the Fairgrounds available for a fee.

The pay-by-mobile parking program turns select city streets east of Snelling Avenue into paid parking zones and charges $25 per day for vehicles to park between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the 12 days of the Fair. Trained ambassadors hired by the city will be available to give directions, answer questions and enforce parking.

The streets north of Larpenteur Avenue include: Asbury, Arona, Simpson, Pascal, Holton, Albert, Ruggles and Crawford. Avenues to the south of Larpenteur include: California, Idaho and Iowa.

Fair attendees can pay via website, app or automated pay-by-phone line and enforcement is tied to license plate information. See how to pay and other Falcon Heights parking information at falconheights.org/residents/parking/state-fair-parking.

Parking violations are $100 from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15.

Residents living on streets designated as a parking zone received one free parking pass in the mail starting in July, with additional passes available by request.

Road work wrapped up

Meanwhile, recent road work that closed portions of Interstate 94 from Interstate 35W to Minnesota Highway 280 in recent days has wrapped up.

Work is expected to resume after Labor Day and the end of the Fair.

Bikes and scooters

Those riding a non-licensed bike or scooter to the Fair can park in one of three free corrals on Fairgrounds. The corrals are located at the Loop Gate on Como Avenue, the North End Gate, and the Randall Avenue-Buford Gate. The corrals are open from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (9 p.m. on Labor Day).

Bikes or scooters with license plates must park in the Motorcycle Lot ($15 each) or in the general parking lots on the Fairgrounds ($25). Attendees may also park and lock bicycles at Express Bus lots and ride a bus to and from the Fair.

Photos: Beehive of activity at Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota State Fair 2025: A look at this year’s Grandstand offerings

Here’s your full day-by-day guide to free fun at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair

‘Monopoly: St. Paul Edition’ hits the landmarks, nails the Minnesota-isms in Thursday debut

Minnesota State Fair 2025: What’s new, what’s changing, and what’s gone from the Fairgrounds