RALEIGH, N.C. — The 2025 North Carolina State Fair will open its gates at noon on Thursday, Oct. 16. But before you can enjoy the rides, fried food and animals, you’ll need to actually get to the fairgrounds.
Luckily for you, there are many ways to get there.
What You Need To Know
Last year, just under 1 million visitors came to enjoy the N.C. State Fair, the sixth largest attendance in the fair’s 156-year history.
With this many visitors, knowing the best way to get to the fair is very important to start off your fun-filled day.
“Parking will be very similar to what it was last year,” said Kent Yelverton, the N.C. State Fair director.
He added parking and transportation regulated by the fair are free for visitors, including two Park & Ride lots.
“[It’s] a great way to come into the fair,” Yelverton said.
Driving
The Bandwidth Dogwood Lot, at 4501 Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh, will run continuous shuttles from the lot and drop off rides at Gate 8 on Trinity Road. Pickup will occur at the same location, on the Carter Finley Stadium side of the road, according to the website.
The second free off-site parking and shuttle service is the Hwy 54 Cardinal Lot, at 5766 Chapel Hill Road in Raleigh.
Shuttles will run continuously with drop-off and pick-up at Gate 7, near Youth Center Drive, according to the fair’s website.
Both the Bandwidth Dogwood and Cardinal lots’ hours run from 11 a.m. to one hour after the gate closes on opening day, Oct. 16, and 9 a.m. until one hour after close from Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 27.
Kim Deaner, a communications officer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, said any construction crews located near the fair that could hinder traffic will be moved to other projects during the fair’s run.
“That’s one less worry you have to deal with as you’re heading into the Fair,” Deaner said.
Deaner said Beryl Road will also re-open prior to the opening of the fair.
“That section has been closed off due to the fact that we are building Blue Ridge Road. We’re building Blue Ridge Road underneath the railroad track,” Deaner said. “So we’ve needed to cut that section of Blue Ridge Road off to the public, and it will be reopened again. So, that’s going to alleviate some traffic.”
The N.C. State Highway Patrol will continue to be out helping guide traffic near the fairgrounds.
“Go early... not when everyone is arriving at the same time. And be prepared for traffic to be busy,” Deaner said. “Prepare for traffic to be busier on I-40 or Wade Avenue leading into the state fairgrounds on Blue Ridge Road. It’s going to be busy. Or Hillsborough, Western Boulevard, Lake Boone, all of those roads that lead into the state fair are going to be busier, so make sure you give yourself plenty of extra time and just know that here at NCDOT, we want you to be safe.”
Free parking will also be available on State Fair, Carter-Finley Football Stadium and Lenovo Center properties, except on Oct. 16, 17, 24 and 25 at the Lenovo Center parking sites.
On Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16-17, and Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, concerts will be held at the Lenovo Center. On these days, Lenovo Center parking will be reserved/paid parking, with lots opening at 1 p.m. prior to each show. Officials say to consider alternate routes, carpool if possible, and arrive early.
?? TRAFFIC ALERT ?? Expect travel delays this Thursday & Friday due to events + NC State Fair traffic. Plan accordingly to allow for extra travel time. Guests are encouraged to carpool if possible and arrive EARLY! Lenovo Center parking lots open at 1PM each day. ???? For more… pic.twitter.com/ndyX509gGx
— Lenovo Center (@LenovoCenter) October 13, 2025
Drop-off and ride-sharing services will be at Gate 1, along Hillsborough Street, for fair visitors.
Accessible parking for visitors with handicap permits will be available in the paved parking lot at the corner of Trinity Road and Blue Ridge, near Gate 10. There are over 100 spots in the lot, according to the N.C. State Fair. If it is full, overflow will be directed to handicap parking at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Train
N.C. By Train has a special stop at the front of the fairgrounds every day of the fair, near Gate 1.
Only Piedmont Train 72 and Carolinian Train 79 will stop at the fairgrounds on Thursday, Oct. 16.
Anyone going to the fairgrounds via train can board from Charlotte, Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham and Cary.
When booking tickets online, use station code NSF and, by using NC By Trains’ Share Fare, save money by getting cheaper prices the more tickets you book.
Click here for a schedule of routes to and from the N.C. State Fair.
Bus
GoRaleigh will run passengers during the duration of the fair, dropping passengers off at Gate 1.
“Our partner Go Raleigh has changed a lot for their park and ride. They are now at Garner Station and Garner. So that’s certainly a great option to park your car and hop on a bus and come to the fair,” Yelverton said.
The Garner Station at 1407 Garner Station Boulevard in Raleigh will bring guests every 30 minutes between 8:30 a.m. to fair closing. Their website says a one-way ticket is $4, with round-trip fare at $5. Seniors 65 and older and passengers with disabilities can ride for $2 one way or $2.50 round trip. Children under 40 inches tall ride for free.
Payment can be made through the UMO app. Advanced sale passes are available through the app, the GoRaleigh operations facility at 4104 Poole Road in Raleigh, or at GoRaleigh Station in downtown Raleigh, according to the N.C. State Fair website.
TheGoPass is not valid on State Fair routes, according to GoRaleigh’s website.
Go Durham will provide transportation from downtown Durham to the fairgrounds through a third party service for free. The express bus will depart from Durham Station 515 W. Pettigrew Street to Gate 1. The service will run from 8 a.m. until fair closing time.