Minnesota State Fair transportation options: What you need to know for 2024

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FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota State Fair is just around the corner, so now is the time to start planning your transportation and there are plenty of ways to get there.

The State Fair offers multiple transportation options, such as express buses, car and bike parking, free park-and-ride locations, and designated areas for ride-share services. Here’s a breakdown of what’s available.

Free Park and Ride services

The Minnesota State Fair offers free park and ride options for 31 locations near the fairgrounds. Buses run regularly from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. with some exceptions on Labor Day and specific locations.

The Minnesota State Fair reported that 940,000 people used Park and Ride in 2023 and 1 million people used it in 2022.

For a full list of Park and Ride locations visit the state fair website here.

Express Buses

The Minnesota State Fair offers express buses for a small fee to those in suburbs slightly outside the Twin Cities. People can park and take a Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and SouthWest Transit bus directly to the fairgrounds.

Metro Transit express buses

Maple Grove (new in 2024) Weekends and Labor Day only. 12350 Main St.
Blaine - 95th Ave. Park & Ride, NW corner of I-35W & 95th Ave. NE
Maplewood - Maplewood Mall Park & Ride, NE corner of Beam Ave. and Southlawn Drive
Minnetonka - I-394 & Co. Rd. 73 Park & Ride, SW corner of I-394 & Co. Rd. 73
Bloomington - 30th Ave. Park & Ride, NW corner of 30th Ave. and 82nd St.
Cottage Grove - Cottage Grove Park & Ride, along Hwy. 61 on W. Point Douglas Rd. between 80th St. and Jamaica Ave.

Tickets cost $6 or can also be purchased for $5 on the Metro Transit app and for $5 via the Bus Bargain Ticket, which can be delivered to your phone or printed at home.

Express services begin at 9 a.m. during the week and 8 a.m. on weekends. The last bus leaves the State Fair at midnight and 11 p.m. on Labor Day. For more information, visit the Metro Transit website here.

Metro Transit regular bus service to the fair

METRO A Line: This bus travels on Snelling Avenue between Rosedale and the 46th Street Station.
Route 3: This bus travels on Como Avenue between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.
Route 61: This bus travels on Larpenteur Avenue between St. Paul and Minneapolis.
METRO Green Line: To get to the State Fairgrounds via the METRO Green Line, board the light rail at one of the stations between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. Transfer to the METRO A Line bus at the Snelling Avenue Station at University Avenue.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority Express Bus Service

Burnsville Transit Station at Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue
Eagan Transit Station and Pilot Knob Road at I-35E
Southbridge Crossing Park and Ride at 1401 Crossings Boulevard in Shakopee

Tickets cost $6 round trip. For more information and specific service time for each stop visit the MVTA website here.

SouthWest Transit Express Bus Service

SouthWest Station in Eden Prairie at 13500 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie
SouthWest Village in Chanhassen at 650 SouthWest Village Drive, Chanhassen
East Creek Station in Chaska at 2120 Chestnut St. N. Chaska
Carver Station (new in 2024) at 1607 Hartwell Drive Carver, MN 55315

Service costs $6 and is not available on Labor Day. Hours of operation are from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and they leave every 30 minutes or when they fill up. For more information, visit their website here.

Taxi and rideshare apps

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have two designated drop-off locations near the fairgrounds while taxis have one designated area. The State Fair said the rideshare locations were expanded and reconfigured to allow for more waiting vehicles.

Rideshare locations

On the northeast end of the fairgrounds near Snelling & Hoyt Avenues (Outside the North End Gate #2). Follow directional signage.
On the south end of the fairgrounds in the parking lot south of Como Avenue, across from Gate 7 and the Dairy Building. Follow directional signal

Taxi location

Loop Gate (#9) 1 741 Como Ave. St. Paul

On-site parking

The Minnesota State Fair offers a variety of onsite parking options for vehicles, bikes, motorcycles and more.

Bicycle Parking

People who ride a non-licensed bike or scooter to the fair can park in one of three free bike corrals from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily or 9 p.m. on Labor Day.

South Bike Lot: Loop Gate (#9) on Como Avenue – New Location
North Bike Lot: North End Gate (#2)
West Bike Lot: Randall Ave-Buford Gate (#16)

State Fair officials say there is space for 930 bikes on the fairground. The largest lot, Loop Gate (#9), more than doubled its capacity from 2023 and can fit 600 bikes. The State Fair purchased additional bike racks to help park in these lots.

For more information on bicycle parking options, visit the Minnesota State Fair website here.

Motorcycle Parking

A lot is available for motorcycles on Como Avenue near the International Institute beginning at 6 a.m. Motorcycle parking in this lot is $15; in other State Fair lots, it is $20 (cash or credit/debit).

For more information on transportation options, visit the Minnesota State Fair website here.

Parking in Fairgrounds Lots

Parking in all State Fair lots is available on a first-come basis for $20 beginning at 6 a.m. Lots tend to fill up quickly but reopen throughout the day as space becomes available.

To access the parking lots use the address 1265 Snelling Ave. N.
St. Paul, MN 55108 to get in the general vicinity. Follow the listed directions to access the parking lots.

Southbound on Snelling Avenue: Turn right onto Hoyt Avenue and you will be directed to park in a lot on the north or west end of the fairgrounds if space is available. Note that the exit from southbound Snelling Avenue to Como Avenue will generally be closed by mid-morning.
Northbound on Snelling Avenue: If you’re heading north on Snelling Avenue, exit on Como Avenue and turn left. You will be directed into the lots off Como Avenue on the south end of the fairgrounds if space is available.
Westbound on Larpenteur Avenue: Turn left onto Snelling Avenue. Turn right onto Hoyt Avenue, and you will be directed to park in lots on the north or west end if space is available.
Westbound on Hoyt Avenue: Cross Snelling Avenue and you will be directed to park in lots on the north or west end if space is available.
Westbound on Nebraska Avenue, Arlington Avenue or Midway Parkway: Turn right on Arona Street. Turn left onto Hoyt Avenue. Cross Snelling Avenue and you will be directed to park in lots on the north or west end if space is available.
Westbound on Como Avenue: You will be directed into the lots off Como Avenue if space is available.
Eastbound on Como Avenue: You will be directed into the lots south of Como Avenue if space is available.
Eastbound on Larpenteur Avenue: Turn right onto Underwood Street and you will be directed to park in lots on the north end if space is available.