Half the fun of the Minnesota State Fair is getting there. Here’s how.
GETTING THERE: INFORMATION
- Minnesota State Fair: 651-288-4400; mnstatefair.org
- Metro Transit: 612-373-3333 (TTY 612-341-0140); metrotransit.org/StateFair
- Minnesota Valley Transit Authority: 952-882-7500; mvta.com
- SouthWest Transit: 952-949-2287; swtransit.org
- All information subject to change
PARK FREE, RIDE FREE
Free rides from 8 a.m. to midnight. Buses leave approximately every 20 minutes.
*Open Sundays at 1 p.m.
EVERY DAY, AUG. 23–SEPT. 3
1 — Bethel University Anderson Center: One block south of County Road E on Pine Tree Drive
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
2 — Catholic United Financial: Lexington Avenue, two blocks south of County Road E
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
RELATED: What’s new at the Minnesota State Fair? North end makeover — and another Sweet Martha’s
3 — Presbyterian Church of the Way*: Lexington Avenue, three blocks south of County Road E
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
4 — Gathering Place (formerly Trinity Lutheran of Lake Johanna)*: New Brighton Road, north of County Road D
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
5 — Roseville Covenant Church*: Hamline Avenue and County Road C2
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
6 — North Heights Lutheran Church*: 1700 Highway 96 W., must enter on and exit off Highway 96
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
7 — Calvary Church*: 4604 Greenhaven Drive, White Bear Township
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
8 — Church of Corpus Christi*: Southwest corner of County Road B and Fairview Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
9 — Wilder Foundation: Lexington Parkway and University Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
10 — Gloria Dei Lutheran Church*: On Snelling Avenue, one block north of Ford Parkway
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
11 — Ford Plant: Two blocks south on South Mississippi Boulevard from Ford Parkway
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
12 — University of Minnesota Minneapolis Campus (not available Thursday, Aug. 30): Various surface lots near TCF Bank Stadium along Sixth Street Southeast and Eighth Street Southeast open at 8 a.m. daily. Fourth Street Ramp opens 4 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. weekends and Labor Day
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
13 — Minnesota Department of Education: North of County Road B at Pascal and Commerce streets
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
14 — Grace Church of Roseville*: County Road B2, one block east of Hamline Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
15 — Roseville Area High School: County Road B2, east of Hamline Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
16 — St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church*: East of Hamline Avenue and north of Minnesota 36
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
17 — Calvary Church*: On Lexington Avenue, south of County Road B
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
18 — New Life Presbyterian Church*: Larpenteur Avenue and Victoria Street
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
19 — Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church*: Arcade Street (U.S. 61) and Larpenteur Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
20 — Oscar Johnson Arena: North of Energy Park Drive, east of Snelling Avenue
(Wheelchair accessible parking exclusively for people with disabilities and their companions.)
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 9
WEEKDAYS ONLY, AUG. 23-24, AUG. 27–AUG. 31 (NO LABOR DAY SERVICE)
21 — Centennial United Methodist Church: On County Road C2, one block east of Snelling Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
EVERY DAY EXCEPT SATURDAYS
*Open Sundays at 1 p.m.
22 — St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church*: On Hamline Avenue, two blocks south of County Road B
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
WEEKENDS AND LABOR DAY, AUG. 25-26, SEPT. 1-3
23 — Interstate 35W and County Road C Ramp: Parking ramp east of I-35W at County Road C and Cleveland Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
24 — Rosedale Corporate Center: East of Snelling Avenue and north of County Road C
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
25 — Waters Edge: On County Road B2, east of Snelling Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
26 — Rosedale Towers: North of County Road B, west of Snelling Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
27 — Roseville Professional Center: On Hamline Avenue, south of Minnesota 36
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
28 — Broadway East and West: West of Industrial Boulevard, south of I-35W, exit 22
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
29 — Children’s Home Society: On Eustis Street, north of Como Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
30 — HealthPartners: Southeast corner of Como Avenue and Minnesota 280
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
31 — St. Paul College: On Marion Street, south of Interstate 94
Drop-off/pick-up: Transit Hub
32 — Merrill Corp.: North of Energy Park Drive, east of Snelling Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
33 — Bandana Square: North side of Energy Park Drive, east of Snelling Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
34 — ETC: South of Energy Park Drive, east of Snelling Avenue
Drop-off/pick-up: Gate 5
EXPRESS BUSES
- State Fair Express buses operate from more than 20 Twin Cities locations. For State Fair transit information, call 612-373-3333 or metrotransit.org/StateFair.
- Cost is $5 round trip. Children ages 4 and younger ride free. On SouthWest Transit buses, children 5 to 12, seniors 64 and older and military with identification ride for $5, ages 13-64, $8, and disabled veterans with ID and children 5 and younger ride free.
- Cash, bus bargain ticket or via the Metro Transit app (cash only at SouthWest Transit locations)
- Go-To Cards and passes, tokens, coupons and SuperSavers are not accepted on State Fair express buses.
- Express buses serve the Transit Hub.
- Bus departure times are approximate.
Every day, Aug. 23-Sept. 3
Service approximately every 15 minutes:
- 95th Avenue Park and Ride, 3249 95th Ave. N.E., Blaine
- Bottineau Boulevard and 63rd Avenue Park and Ride, 7000 63rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park
- Interstate 394 and County Road 73 Park and Ride, 1100 Hopkins Crossroads, Minnetonka (southwest corner of I-394 and County Road 73)
- Parade Stadium/Dunwoody College of Technology, 600 Kenwood Parkway, Minneapolis (I-394 and Dunwoody Boulevard)
- Across from Mall of America east parking ramp, 82nd Street and 24th Avenue South, Bloomington
Service approximately every half-hour:
- Fridley Station, 6050 Main St., Fridley (61st Avenue and Main Street Northeast)
- Signal Hills Shopping Center, 1201 S. Robert St., St. Paul (South Robert Street and Butler Avenue)
- Cottage Grove Park and Ride, 7500 West Point Douglas Road S., Cottage Grove (along U.S. 61 between 80th Street and Jamaica Avenue)
- Maplewood Mall Transit Center, 1793 Beam Ave., Maplewood (board on Southlawn Drive)
Weekends and Labor Day only
Service approximately every 15 minutes:
- Knox Avenue Park and Ride at Best Buy, 7701 Knox Ave., Richfield
Service approximately every half-hour:
- Marcus Oakdale Cinema, 5677 Hadley Ave. N. Oakdale
- Maple Grove Transit Station, Interstate 94 and Hemlock Lane
- Newport Transit Station, 250 Red Rock Crossing, Newport
Additional express bus services
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority
Return service is from noon to midnight; 952-882-7500, mvta.com
- Burnsville Transit Station, 12155 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville (Minnesota 13 and Nicollet Avenue) — Hourly service on weekdays 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; service every half-hour from 8 a.m. on weekends and Labor Day.
- Eagan Transit Station, 3470 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan (Yankee Doodle and Pilot Knob roads at Interstate 35E) — Hourly service on weekdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; service every half-hour from 8 a.m. on weekends and Labor Day.
- Marschall Road Transit Station, 1615 Weston Court, Shakopee, (U.S. 169 and County Road 17) — Hourly service from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and Labor Day.
SouthWest Transit
Hours of service vary. Last return bus is 11:30 p.m.; 952-949-2287, swtransit.org
- Wooddale Church, 6630 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie — Weekdays only. Service approximately every half-hour from 8 a.m.
- SouthWest Station, 13500 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie — Weekends and Labor Day only. Service approximately every half-hour from 7 a.m.
- SouthWest Village, 650 SouthWest Village Drive, Chanhassen (U.S. 212 and Minnesota 101) — Weekends and Labor Day only. Service approximately every half-hour from 7 a.m.
- East Creek Station, 2120 Chestnut St. N., Chaska (U.S. 212 and Minnesota 41) — Weekends and Labor Day only. Service approximately every half-hour from 7 a.m.
REGULAR BUS ROUTES
These routes serve the Fairgrounds, and you can use cash or a transit pass to pay your fare. All are wheelchair accessible.
- Route 960: Live or work in downtown Minneapolis? Get from downtown to the Fairgrounds in about 15 minutes. Board on Nicollet Mall.
- A Line or Route 84: Take the A Line with rapid bus service on Snelling Avenue between the 46th Street Station and Rosedale right to the Fairgrounds.
- Green Line: Ride the Green Line between downtown Minneapolis or downtown St. Paul and transfer to the A Line or Route 84 bus at the Snelling Avenue Station. Transfers are free.
- Route 3: It’s an easy ride from either downtown to a stop at the Fairgrounds on Como Avenue.
PARKING
Parking in all State Fairground lots is filled on a first-come, first-served basis for $14 (cash only); $28 for for vehicles with trailers, which must fit in a double parking space. Hours are from 6 a.m. to midnight daily (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Labor Day).
A motorcycle lot is available on Como Avenue near the International Institute. Cost is $8. Hours are from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.
Free bicycle corrals are at the Como-Snelling Gate, the Hoyt-Snelling Gate or the Randall-Buford Gate. Hours are from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.
