Iowa State Fair 2026: Park & Ride Changes, New Entrance & Traffic Updates

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa State Fair is altering its park-and-ride options for the 2026 event, shifting the primary off-site location from Southeast Polk High School to Southridge Mall. The change comes after the city of Pleasant Hill ended its agreement with the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), according to a statement released by the State Fair on Tuesday.

The move will provide free bus service from Southridge Mall directly to the fairgrounds. Fairgoers utilizing DART buses from the Center Street Parking Garage and the State Capitol in downtown Des Moines will still be subject to the standard $3 per person fare.

The decision follows a review of traffic patterns and guest feedback collected after the 2025 Iowa State Fair, according to Iowa State Fair CEO/Manager Jeremy Parsons. “These updates come directly from listening to fairgoers,” Parsons said in the news release. “Our goal is always to make the fair experience better, and that starts with making it easier to get here.”

The 2025 fair saw record-breaking shuttle ridership, with over 263,000 rides on DART buses to and from the fairgrounds. Wednesday, August 13, 2025, recorded a single-day high of 24,889 rides, followed closely by 24,188 rides on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Beyond the park-and-ride relocation, fair officials are implementing additional traffic flow improvements. These include a new entrance to the parking lot along University Avenue at East 38th Street, and a reduction in parking spaces within the fairgrounds themselves, with a corresponding shift to parking areas south of Dean Avenue. The aim is to minimize the interaction between pedestrian and vehicle traffic within the fairgrounds, reducing congestion.

“We know parking and traffic are some of the biggest challenges at the fair,” Parsons stated. “These improvements won’t solve everything overnight, but we sense they are meaningful steps in the right direction. We’ll continue listening to fairgoers and improving from here.”

The 2026 Iowa State Fair, themed “Fair Spirit” in recognition of the nation’s 250th birthday, is scheduled to run from August 13-23.