Raleigh & Cary Bus Info | Garner Bus Info
Chapel Hill & RTP Bus Info | Durham Bus Info
Take the Train

One of the best options for getting to the State Fair is to take a bus or train.   The bus offers front-door service and express lanes makes getting here quick and easy, and the train provides a relaxing trip to and from the Fair.
Raleigh and Cary Bus Info Hillsborough Street Route | Map   • This route stops at special blue State Fair bus stops along the route. The route begins on Wilmington Street at Morgan Street in front of the NC DOT building, turns left on Edenton Street, merges onto Hillsborough Street and travels to the fairgrounds.   • Look for the blue State Fair signs.   • Daily service from 7 a.m. to midnight (on Thursday, Oct. 13 service will operate from 1 p.m. to midnight)   North Raleigh Park-and-Ride Shuttle from the ITB Holdings Building at 2912 Wake Forest Road | Map   • Follow the green State Fair signs from I-440 Exit 10 (Wake Forest Road) or the intersection of Wake Forest Road and Six Forks Road to 2912 Wake Forest Road at the ITB Holdings Building. This is one block south of the I-440 Beltline and one block north of Six Forks Road.   • Daily service from 8:30 a.m. to midnight (on Thursday, Oct. 13 service will operate from 2:30 p.m. to midnight)   Cary Park-and-Ride Shuttle from the WakeMed Soccer Park | Map   • Follow the green State Fair signs from I-40 Exit 290 (Cary/Highway 54) or Exit 291 (Cary Towne Boulevard) to WakeMed Soccer Park, 201 Soccer Park Drive off of East Chatham Street near the Raleigh/Cary border.   • Daily service from 8:30 a.m. to midnight (on Thursday, Oct. 13 service will operate from 2:30 p.m. to midnight)   Fares   • Full fare is $4 round trip   • Reduced fare for passengers with disabilities and senior citizens age 65 and older is $2 round trip.   • Children under 40" tall ride free with a paying passenger. All others pay full fare.   • Exact change required       Drop Off Location at the Fair   • CAT bus riders will be dropped off and picked up outside Gate 1 of the fairgrounds, along Hillsborough Street.         Durham Bus Info Take DATA from Durham Station to the State Fair. There is very limited, free on-street parking near Durham Station. Plan your bus trip from home at www.gotriangle.org. | Map   Service begins at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 23. DATA buses depart hourly from the Durham Station, 515 West Pettigrew St. Durham, NC 27701   • Monday-Saturday: shuttle operates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The last departure from the fairgrounds returning to Durham is at 11 p.m.   • Sundays: the shuttle departs Durham Station from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last departure from the fairgrounds returning to Durham is at 7 p.m. The 7 p.m. trip on Sundays will make its final stop at the Durham Station, and WILL NOT make any other connections. Please plan your trip home from the Durham Station on Sundays with this in mind.           Durham Heritage Square Shopping Center Park-and-ride | Map   Service begins at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 23. DATA buses depart at 5 minutes past the hour from the Heritage Square Shopping Center, 401 East Lakewood Ave. Durham, NC 27707   • Monday-Saturday: shuttle operates from 10:05 a.m. to 10:05 p.m. The last departure from the fairgrounds returning to Durham is at 11 p.m.   • Sundays: the shuttle departs from 10:05 a.m. to 6:05 p.m. The last departure from the fairgrounds returning to Durham is at 7 p.m.       Fares   • The DATA State Fair Shuttle uses a special pass that contains a round-trip (2 rides). State Fair Shuttle passes may only be purchased on the State Fair Shuttle. You may also pay a cash fare. Exact change required. Use of any type of day or regional pass will not be allowed.   • The shuttle fare is $2 round-trip.   • The discount fare for passengers with disabilities is $1 round-trip   • Youth 12-years-old and younger ride free. Youth taller than 5 feet (60") require a DATA ID to ride free.   • Seniors (65 & older) and City of Durham employees also ride free.   • DATA ID, Medicare card or government-issued identification is required for discount or free fares.   • Exact change is required.   Drop Off Location at the Fair   • DATA bus riders will be dropped off and picked up at Gate 10 of the fairgrounds.   • For additional information, call the GoTriangle Regional Call Center at 485-RIDE (7433).     Garner Area Bus Info McLaurin Parking Co. Park & Ride Lot in Garner | Map   Fairgoers east of Raleigh can take advantage of the Garner Park & Ride Lot. Located off of Hwy. 70 East/401 South, South Wilmington Street at 500 Chapanoake Road. The lot can also be reached off of Tryon Road (near the Tryon/South Wilmington Intersection) at Grenelle Street, 400 Tryon Road.     Saturdays and Sundays only   • Buses will depart on the hour from the Garner park-and-ride between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Buses will depart the Fair for the return trip to Garner between 9 a.m. and midnight.   Fares   • The full fare is $4 round trip   • The reduced fare for passengers with disabilities and senior citizens (over 65) is $2 round trip.   • Children under 40" tall ride free with a paying passenger. All others pay full fare.   • Exact change is required   Drop Off Location at the Fair   • Garner Park & Ride bus riders will be dropped off and picked up outside Gate 12 of the fairgrounds, along Hillsborough Street.   Back to top   Chapel Hill & RTP Bus Info Chapel Hill - University Mall Park & Ride Lot, 201 South Estes Drive. | Map   • On Saturdays (Oct. 15 and 22 only), buses will depart on the hour from the University Mall park-and-ride between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Buses will depart the Fairgrounds for return trips on the hour between noon and 10 p.m.   • On Sundays (Oct. 16 and 23 only), buses will depart on the hour from the University Mall park-and-ride between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Buses will depart the Fairgrounds on the hour between noon and 6 p.m. Triangle Transit Regional Transit Center (RTC) located at 901 Slater Rd in Durham near the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, one-half mile south of Exit 282 (Page Rd) on I-40. | Map   • On Saturdays (Oct. 15 and 22 only), buses will depart at 30 minutes past the hour from the Triangle Transit RTC between 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Buses will depart the Fairgrounds on the hour between noon and 10 p.m.   • On Sundays (Oct. 16 and 23 only), buses will depart at 30 minutes past the hour from the Triangle Transit RTC between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Buses will depart the Fairgrounds on the hour between noon and 6 p.m.   Fares   • The Triangle Transit express bus ticket price will be $5.00 round-trip for individuals over the age of 12. Persons with disabilities pay $2.50 round-trip.   • Exact change is required.   Drop Off Location at the Fair   • NEW THIS YEAR! Triangle Transit bus riders will be dropped off and picked up at Gate 10 of the fairgrounds.   • For additional information, call the GoTriangle Regional Call Center at 485-RIDE (7433).       Back to top     Ride to the N.C. State Fair October 14-23 (train rides not available on Oct. 13) Getting to the State Fair on Train 80:   • Ride train 80 departing Charlotte at 7:00 a.m.* with stops at Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, Cary, State Fairgrounds & Raleigh station.   • Book tickets using Fare Code NSF.   • For best fares, book early. Tickets now on sale 4 easy ways (see below).   • Train 80 arrives across the street from the Fairgrounds at approximately 10:08 a.m.*   • State Fair tickets can be purchased at the entrance gate, or in advance by clicking here.     Getting Home from the State Fair on Train 79:   • Ride train 79 departing State Fairgrounds stop at 4:56 p.m.* with stops at Raleigh station, Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis & Charlotte.   • Book tickets using Fair Code NSF.   • For best fares, book early. Tickets now on sale 4 easy ways (see below).   • Train 79 arrives Charlotte station approximately 8:12 p.m.*           *Note: Trains are considered on time if they arrive within 30 minutes of their scheduled arrival time. We recommend checking train status before you travel by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.       One-way fares to the State Fair as low as:     For best fairs, book early.     Discounts available for seniors, children, college students & active military.     *Note: Temporary State Fair stop is wheelchair accessible.         • From Charlotte - $27.50 • From Greensboro - $11.50   • From Kannapolis - $25.50 • From Burlington - $9.00   • From Salisbury - $22.50 • From Durham - $6.50   • From High Point - $14.50 • From Cary - $5.50       Book tickets 1 of 4 easy ways:   • At automated ticket kiosks at all station trains, except Cary   • Online at Amtrak.com   • Walk-up window sales at Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro & Charlotte stations.   • By calling 1-800-USA-RAIL or by picking up red reservation phones at Burlington, High Point, Salisbury or Kannapolis stations.           Back to top

Driving Directions

Maps

Click here to download a 2011 State Fair activity map (PDF)

View Larger N.C. State Fairgrounds Map

Get directions

Parking Info

The best option for getting to the fair park in a Park & Ride lot and ride the bus. See the Bus & Train information for where these lots are located. Park & Ride buses drop off patrons just outside the Fairgrounds gates, eliminating the hassle of finding a parking spot. Convenient Park & Ride lots are available in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill and RTP.

Parking is free on state property

Free parking is available on State Fair, Carter-Finley Football Stadium and RBC Center properties. Fairgoers are encouraged to take Wade Avenue to the Edwards Mill Extension to park in these lots. There may be exceptions if events are scheduled at Carter-Finley or the RBC Center.

See a map of the Fairgrounds

Recreational vehicles are not allowed to remain in the parking spaces owned by the State Fair between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m.

Handicap parking lots
The parking lot at Gate 10 at the northeast corner of the fairgrounds, between Trinity Road and Blue Ridge Road is paved and designated for Handicap Parking only. There are more than 100 parking spaces designated for use by handicapped or disabled visitors in this lot, but a valid handicap permit is required. Visitors can access the Fair through gates 9 and 10. When handicap parking spaces at Gate 10 are filled, drivers with valid handicap permits will be directed to Carter-Finley Stadium. Buses and vehicles may unload disabled passengers in the paved parking lot near Gate 10, but may only park there if the vehicle displays a valid handicap permit and if space is available. The driver of the vehicle should inform a traffic patrol officer of the intention to simply drop off disabled passengers.

Click here for more information about handicap accessibility.

Exhibitor parking lots

Concessionaires and exhibitors park in the lot west of RV Parking past Gate 9 along Trinity Road. Another option for exhibitors is just south of the fairgrounds across from Hillsborough Street and Gate 2. Permits are required for these lots.

Don't park on the street!
In years past, fairgoers have been accustomed to parking alongside Wade Avenue, but both Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill Road are now designated as tow-away zones. The North Carolina Highway Patrol has implemented these areas for the safety and protection of pedestrians. Youth Center Road is also a tow-away zone.

On especially busy days, the Highway Patrol may shut down exits from Wade to Blue Ridge Road and from the inner beltline to Hillsborough -- starting as early as traffic demands it -- to encourage flow to Edwards Mill Road.

You parked the car where?