Posted on August, 7 2025
The smartest way to get to the fair!
- Get dropped off directly on the fairgrounds in an air-conditioned ride.
- Safety first! Avoid walking or driving in the traffic around the fairgrounds.
- Find free parking in large, dedicated lots.
Service Overview
Service Hours:
- August 7 – 16: 8 a.m. until midnight
- Sunday, August 17: 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Bus Schedule:
- Departures every 10 - 15 minutes.
Fairgrounds Drop Off & Pick-Up:
- Gate 10 (Found at K-1 on the Iowa State Fair's map)
Plan Your Park & Ride Trip
Locations
Tickets
Know Before You Go
Park & Ride Locations
DART has three Park & Ride locations to the Iowa State Fair located across Greater Des Moines.
7th & Center Street Parking Garage
830 7th St., Des Moines, IA 50309
What to expect at Center St. Park & Ride:
- Easy access to Interstate 235.
- Plenty of covered parking and a shaded waiting area.
- Least busy location – ticket booth and boarding lines are usually shorter than other locations.
Shuttle ticketing and boarding is located at ground-level on the southeast corner of the building.
The Iowa State Capitol Complex
1007 E Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50319
What to expect at the State Capitol Park & Ride
- A view of the State Capitol's golden dome and other historical monuments.
- The shortest ride to the fairgrounds, but waiting to board a bus may be longer during peak times.
Shuttle ticketing and boarding is located along E. 12th St. between E. Grand Ave. and E. Walnut St.
For information about parking lot availability refer to posted signs at location or the interactive map below.
Southeast Polk High School
7945 NE University Ave., Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
What to expect at the Southeast Polk Park & Ride:
- Parking is expected to fill up by mid-morning and stay full until early evening.
- Because of construction, extra parking at the Southeast Polk Junior High School may not be available most days of the fair. Construction is scheduled to be done next week, but may be delayed due to weather.
- On Thursday, August 14, an event at the high school means only a few accessible parking spots will be available until noon. A small portion of the Junior High parking has opened for parking but will fill up quickly in the morning. If you plan to use this location on Thursday, we highly recommend arriving after noon.
Shuttle ticketing and boarding is located on the west side of the high school (near the main entrance).
Shuttle Bus Tickets
DART Park & Ride bus tickets can be purchased at ticket booths at each location or in the MyDART mobile app.
Ticket Prices |
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|---|---|
| $3 |
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| $2 |
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| $1 |
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| Free |
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Cash, card and contactless payments are accepted. Exact change is appreciated. |
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- Tickets Booth Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Each ticket or mobile pass purchased covers the cost for a round-trip, meaning it pays for your trip to the fairgrounds and back to your Park & Ride location.
- No physical ticket or mobile pass is needed to board buses back to Park & Ride locations.
For questions about Unlimited Access Partner passes, and regular DART passes, and how they relate to this special service see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
MyDART App Passes
Skip the ticket line and purchase discounted bus passes in advance through the MyDART mobile app. Tickets will be available in the app starting August 1, 2025.
Using Your Mobile Pass is easy!
- When you arrive, activate your tickets by tapping each one and hitting "Activate" at the bottom of the screen.
- Head to the shuttle boarding line and show the attendant the activated tickets as you get on the bus.
- Activated tickets expire after an hour, but are not needed for the trip back to your car.
MyDART App Tips:
- You can purchase mobile passes for all people in your party on a single device.
- You can select and activate multiple tickets at a time.
- Each State Fair MyDART mobile pass covers both trips to and from the Fairgrounds.
Know Before You Go
Strollers, Wagons and Other Mobility Devices
Stroller, wagons and other mobility devices are welcome on DART buses. These items do not need to be collapsed on board, unless they block the aisle or seating for other passengers.
During busy times, you will be asked to collapse strollers and wagons as we will fill all seats on the bus.
All buses are ADA accessible and include ramps and onboard restraint systems for people in wheelchairs or motorized mobility devices.
What Not to Bring
Items prohibited from the Iowa State Fairgrounds should not be brought onto the bus. See a list of items prohibited from the fairgrounds, the Grandstand and the Elwell Family Center at iowastatefair.org/safety.
After Hours Boarding
After 8 p.m., location ticket booths will be closed but you can still ride to the Iowa State Fair until gate entry closes.
- Only exact change or MyDART mobile passes are accepted as payment.
- Stand at the "After Hours Pick Up" sign and wait for the next bus. Buses should service each pick-up location every 15 - 25 minutes.
Fairgrounds Gates close at:
- August 7 – 16: 10 p.m.
- August 17: 7 p.m.
Returning to Your Car
When you are ready to return to your DART Park & Ride location make your way back to Gate 10 – located on the west side of the fairgrounds.
No purchase of tickets or mobile passes are necessary on the return trip to Park & Ride location.
Keep in mind:
- Make sure you are waiting in the correct line for your Park & Ride location and board a bus marked with your location's name.
- Food and drink containers without secure lids are not allowed on buses.
- After 6 p.m. the lines for the State Capitol and Center St. Parking Garage combine as buses will drop at both locations (the Iowa State Capitol first and then the Center St. Parking Garage). At the Iowa Capitol Complex this changes the drop off location.
- If the Grandstand show runs past midnight, shuttle service will continue for an additional thirty minutes after the show.
Additional Questions?
Review our Park & Ride Frequently Asked Questions page to answer common questions. If you have additional questions please contact DART Customer Service:
- By Phone: 515-283-8100
- By Email: DART@ridedart.com
- In Person: DART Central Station – 620 Cherry St., Des Moines, IA 50309