State Fair Week: Transportation & Parking

With today being the official start of the 2015 Minnesota State Fair, running through Labor Day -- I thought it would be a good idea to take a quick look at the best options for getting to the Fair, and how to tackle parking if you plan on driving to the fairgrounds.

Driving From The St. Cloud Area:  Take I-94 East to Snelling Avenue, then turn left and head north. That part's pretty simple, but here's a local map if you'd like a copy.

Avoiding Construction:  For the most current traffic and weather-related driving conditions on state highways, visit www.511mn.org. You can also visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation website for information on traffic detours, maps and other details about construction projects currently underway.

Parking At The Fairground Lots:  Parking in State Fair lots is $13. (A pre-fair discount admission ticket may not be used to cover the cost of vehicle parking.) If you park on the fairgrounds and leave the lot, you must pay to re-park your vehicle when you return.

• Lots may be accessed off Larpenteur Avenue (must be traveling east) by turning south on Underwood Street and off Snelling Avenue (must be traveling south) by turning west on Hoyt Avenue. Additional fairgrounds parking lots are available south of Como Avenue.
• Public vehicle traffic and pedestrians are not permitted through West Dan Patch Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue (Gate #15) near the U of M St. Paul Campus.
• If you are hoping to park behind or around the Grandstand, you must enter the fairgrounds at the intersection of Hoyt Avenue and Snelling Avenue.

Park & Ride:  If you don't mind bussing it to the Fair, there are a ton of Park & Ride locations featuring free parking and busses leaving every 20 minutes. The complete schedule and location list is HERE.

Express Bus Service:  Operating much like Park & Ride, these Fair-only drop-off & pick-up locations also offer free parking and a $5 round trip (cash only). Buses operate 8 AM - midnight. Express buses serve the State Fair Transit Hub, which is located on the west side of the fairgrounds near the West End Market.  Get the Express Service guide HERE.

St. Cloud to St. Paul via Northstar Link/Line Weekends:  On August 29/30 and September 5/6 you can take the Northstar Link bus from St. Cloud to Big Lake, Northstar Line from Becker to Fridley, and the Fair Express Bus from Fridley to the Fair (and back to St. Cloud again) all for just $30. That includes up to two adults and three children -- including round-trip and parking, plus a fun train ride. The Fridley/Fair busses run back & forth every half hour. Get the State Fair/Northstar Line schedule HERE.

Biking To The Fair:  Nevermind, we live in St. Cloud.  (And if you actually are biking to the Fair, you sure as hell don't need any kind of help from me.)

See you at the Fair!