Plan your trip to the Iowa State Fair with DART

The Iowa State Fair will have the streets bustling from Aug. 7-17, and Iowans across the state are excitedly preparing for the annual event. Transportation will be a big factor in arriving at the fair, and thankfully, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) will provide shuttles for an easy arrival.

This is not the first time that DART has offered a shuttle service for the event. In 2024, they accomplished a “record-breaking” 272,000 rides to those who attended the Iowa State Fair. Luis Montoya, chief operating and planning officer at DART, says that they are proud to provide this service to Iowans traveling to the fair.

“With increasing attendance and limited parking at the Iowa State Fair, we are proud to offer a safe, affordable and convenient travel option,” Montoya says. “Our strong partnership with the Iowa State Fair helps tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country access this iconic event.”

The service begins at 8 a.m. when the fair opens on Aug. 7. It will end at midnight each day except on Sunday, Aug. 17, when the fair closes early. Free parking is available at all DART Park & Ride locations, including 7th and Center Street Parking Garage in Downtown Des Moines, Iowa State Capitol in East Village, and Southeast Polk High School in Pleasant Hill.

The shuttles will pick up fairgoers at these locations and drop them off at Gate 10 of the Fairgrounds. They do not follow a set schedule, but leave and arrive every 10–15 minutes. The service costs $3 total, but there are specific discounts:

Veterans get a free ride on Monday, Aug. 11, for Veterans Day.
Riders who are 10 and under, 65 and over, or Medicare cardholders pay $1 to ride on the shuttles.
Riders who purchase their tickets on the MyDART mobile app can purchase them for $2 starting Aug. 1.

Regular DART bus passes and Unlimited Access Passes/IDs are not accepted for the Iowa State Fair shuttle service. Tickets for the shuttle service are available at all Park & Ride locations. For more information, visit DART’s Park & Ride page.