Fair-goers can park their car and ride DART for a convenient, air-conditioned trip to the Iowa State Fair August 10-20, 2023.

Cartoon image of DART buses at fair

 

Free Parking Locations

Three Park & Ride locations are available, with free parking, from 8:30 a.m. to midnight each day of the fair. All buses will drop off and pick up at Gate 10 at the Fairgrounds.

Center Street Park & Ride (830 6th St.)

Enter Center Street parking ramp on 7th Street. Bus picks up at the corner of 6th Avenue and Center Street. NOTE: Overflow parking is directly to the west of the parking ramp in the Principal lot. The lot is open after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. Overnight parking is not permitted.

Iowa State Capitol, E 12th St. 

Parking available at State Capitol visitor lots. Bus picks up on East 12th Street, directly east of the Capitol building. Map of State Capitol visitor parking lots. NOTE: On weekends, all State Capitol parking lots are available for DART Park & Ride parking.

Southeast Polk High School

Parking available in high school parking lots. Bus picks up at main door of high school and drops off at Gate 10 of the Fairgrounds. This is a very popular Park & Ride location and fills up quickly each morning.  If you're heading to the Fair in the late morning or early afternoon, you are encouraged to use the Center Street or Capitol Park & Ride locations. Please also be advised that as SE Polk fills up, there is a longer walk from further parking spots to the bus pick-up location. Overnight parking is not allowed at SE Polk High School. Vehicles will be towed after 2 a.m.

Costs to Ride 

Round-trip Fares (cash or MyDART app passes only). All riders need a bus ticket to get to the Fair. No ticket needed for the return trip. One-way fares are available upon request.

Tickets can also be purchased in the MyDART App starting August 1.

$2 adults (ages 11+)

$1 children ages 6-10, adults (65+), Medicare card holders and people with disabilities (half-fare)

Children 5 and younger are free, however a free ticket available at all ticket booths is still needed to board

Discount: Show your Iowa State Fair advance admission ticket OR purchase your ticket in the MyDART app and receive half off the round-trip fare!

Tips for using the MyDART app to buy your Park & Ride bus ticket:

Plan ahead! Bus tickets will be available early August in the app so you can be ready to board when you arrive.

One person can buy multiple tickets in the app. There is no need for each person in a group to download the app.

You will need to create an account to buy bus tickets in the MyDART app.

Activate your ticket(s) a few minutes before you're ready to board the bus.

To board the bus, simply scan your device on the farebox when boarding.

DART Customer Service

For questions or additional information, please contact DART Customer Service at 515-283-8100 or dart@ridedart.com

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