Driving Directions
4285 Trinity Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
The N.C. State Fairgrounds is easily accessible from the I-440 Beltline, I-40, as well as from Blue Ridge Road, N.C. Highway 54 (Hillsborough Street) and Edwards Mill Road. Free parking is available on State Fair and Carter-Finley Football Stadium property, except for recreational vehicles that park between the hours of midnight and 8:00 a.m.
I-40 East into Raleigh
Exit Wade Avenue, Exit #289
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking
I-95 North to I-40 West
Exit Wade Avenue, Exit #289
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking
US 70 West to I-40 West
Exit #293, I-440 to Exit #289 Wade Avenue
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking
US 64 / 264 West to Raleigh
Exit 419 - I-440 towards Wake Forest
Exit Wade Avenue, Exit #4-B
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking
I-40 West to Raleigh
Exit Wade Avenue, Exit #289
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking
US 264 West to 64 West to Raleigh
Exit 419 - I-440 towards Wake Forest
Exit Wade Avenue, Exit #4-B
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking
I-85 North to I-40 East to Raleigh
Exit Wade Avenue, Exit #289
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking
I-95 South to I-85 South to US 1 South to Raleigh
Take I-440 W Exit towards Sanford
Exit Wade Avenue, Exit #4-B
Exit Edwards Mill Road
Follow signs to State Fair parking.
Park & Ride
Address: 4501 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607
The N.C. State Fair offers FREE off-site parking at the corner of Edwards Mill and Reedy Creek. Entrance to this lot is off Reedy Creek Road. With quick access to I-40 via Wade Avenue, this is the easiest lot to access as you make your way to the Fair!
We will also provide FREE shuttles! You'll be dropped off just across from Gate 8 on Trinity Road, and pick up will occur at the same location. Shuttles will run continuously. Drop off and pick up will be across Trinity Road at Gate 8 on the Carter Finley Stadium side of the road.
Bandwidth Dogwood Lot Parking Hours
Thursday, Oct. 17: 11 a.m. until one hour after gates close
Friday, Oct. 18 - Sunday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m. until one hour after gates close
Address: 5766 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607
The N.C. State Fair offers FREE off-site parking off Hwy 54/Chapel Hill Road just past I-40 Exit 290 on your way to the fairgrounds.
We will also provide FREE shuttles! You'll be dropped off just across from our new Gate 7 off Youth Center Dr. and pick up will occur at the same location. Shuttles will run continuously.
Hwy 54 Cardinal Lot Parking Hours
Thursday, Oct. 17: 11 a.m. until one hour after gates close
Friday, Oct. 18 - Sunday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m. until one hour after gates close
Tickets will be available starting the early part of September.
For a real adventure, visit with NC By Train at our special stop right in front of the North Carolina State Fair Oct. 18-27. The train stop is located just outside Gate 1 of the N.C. State Fair. The special train stop is wheelchair accessible.
Inbound trains will be 80 or 72 with outbound on 77 or 79. This gives you more flexibility and allows you to customize your visit!
Book tickets online using Station Code NSF, and prepare to enjoy some Homegrown Happiness! Visit NC by Train for tickets.
Make GoRaleigh your first RIDE at the North Carolina State Fair. From October 17 – 27, GoRaleigh shuttles carry passengers to the state fairgrounds from the Triangle Town Center Shopping Mall in Raleigh. You get dropped off right at Gate 1!
LOCATIONS
North Raleigh: Triangle Town Center Shopping Mall
8:30 a.m. - Fair Closing | Non-Stop Express Shuttle - Every 30 Minutes
Park and Ride is located near the Dillard's parking lot.
Follow the park and ride signs to each lot and enjoy the ride!
Round trip fare is $5 (one-way is $4). Seniors 65 & older and passengers with disabilities are half fare at $2.50 (one-way is $$2). Payment can be paid through cash or by using the UMO app. Children under 40” tall ride free. The GoPass is not valid on State Fair routes.
Advanced sale passes are available through the UMO App or in person beginning October 2 and may be purchased at the GoRaleigh operations facility, 4104 Poole Rd, Raleigh, or at GoRaleigh Station in downtown Raleigh.
Go Durham is using a 3rd party service, to provide transportation from downtown Durham to the N.C. State Fair in 2024. The express bus service departs from Durham Station at 515 W. Pettigrew St., Durham, NC, and takes fairgoers to Gate 1 of the fairgrounds along Hillsborough St. in Raleigh.
The free service will run hourly from 8 a.m. to fair closing time. Seating is limited, and riders are asked to plan accordingly.
A full schedule is available at the Go Durham website.
Parking
Free parking is available on State Fair, Carter-Finley Football Stadium and Lenovo Center properties.
Lenovo Center Parking will be reserved/paid parking on the following dates:
Friday, October 18
Saturday, October 19
Friday, October 25
Saturday, October 26
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 Lenovo Center. More guidance and tips are included in this post on the "Deep Fried at the N.C. State Fair" blog: Updated guide to getting to the 2024 N.C. State Fair, including returning bus service
Recreational vehicles are not allowed to remain in the parking spaces managed by the State Fair between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m.
Neighboring Private Lots: During the Fair, neighboring residents frequently convert parts of their property to small parking lots. This is not controlled by the N.C. State Fair.