What You Need to Know to Go to the Iowa State Fair

On the go? Click here for the State Fair's Mobile Site.

The State Fair's main website can be found here.

Hours

Grounds: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.; no entry or re-entry after 9 p.m. on Sunday, August 21 

Buildings: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Midway: 10 a.m. to Midnight

Regular Gate Admission

Visa, MasterCard and Discover are all accepted at the gate but this year you can also buy and print your tickets at home. Go to iowastatefair.org, choose your ticket and print for no fee.

Adults: $10

Children (ages 6-11): $4

Children (ages 5 and under): FREE every Fair day

Note: Grandstand tickets do not include gate admission to the Fair itself. Fair admission must be purchased separately to attend Grandstand events.

Admission Discounts

Half-price Admission: Monday - Thursday, 5-10 p.m., $5 (adults), $2 (ages 6-11); not good with any other discount. Also offered all day on Extreme Sunday, August 21.

Older Iowans' Day: Wednesday, August 17, $7 for ages 60 and over

Midway

A set of five midway ride tickets can be purchased for $13. Each ticket is good for one ride. Tickets can be purchased on the Iowa State Fair website and the Fair ticket office.

Fairgoers can buy a wristband good for unlimited mechanical rides for $25 good for rides between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays on the midway. 

Grandstand Tickets

Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Grandstand tickets do not include gate admission. The Fair ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday for walk-up orders only, if tickets remain.

Parking

North Lot Parking (E. University Ave. and E. 30^th St) .: $10

Motorcycle Parking: $10

Bicycle Parking (inside Gate 10, off E. 30^th St.): $2

Buses and Drivers: FREE

DART's Park & Ride

Show your advance admission ticket at one of DART’s three State Fair Park & Rides and receive 50 percent off the roundtrip fare. Parking is free at all locations.

Discounted roundtrip prices with advance Fair admission ticket are $1 for adults and 50 cents for children ages 6-10, seniors (65+) and people with a disability. Children 5 and younger ride for free. Regular roundtrip fares are $2 for adults and $1 for children, seniors and people with a disability.  Cash only; exact fare required. Catch the #1 Fairgrounds route at any of the Park & Ride locations to receive your discount.

Catch the bus at any of the three FREE Park & Ride locations for a quick and easy direct trip to State Fair:

• Center Street Park & Ride (7th and Center St., enter on 7th St.)

• Southeast Polk School (N.E. 80th St. and Highway 163)

• State Capitol (East 12th and Grand Ave.)

New hours: The hours are now 8:30 a.m. to midnight every day of the Fair at all Park & Ride locations.

Most buses are wheelchair-accessible. For more information, call DART at 515.283.8100

Directions

Eastern Iowa: From I-80 take Exit 141 (Hwy. 65 Bypass), travel south on Hwy. 65 to
Exit 79 and head west on Hwy. 163 (E University Avenue) approximately three miles to the Fairgrounds. It is suggested that visitors enter the Fair parking lot at E 36th as a left-hand turn may not be allowed into the grounds at E 33rd at certain times.

Northern Iowa: From I-35, take I-235 to Exit 10A then head east on E University Avenue approximately four miles to the Fairgrounds.

Western Iowa: From I-235, take Exit 10A then head east on E University Avenue approximately four miles to the Fairgrounds.

Southern Iowa: From I-35, take I-235 to Exit 10A then head east on E University Avenue approximately four miles to the Fairgrounds.