The N.C. State Fairgrounds sit on the west side of Raleigh at 4285 Trinity Road. The Fair says the grounds are easy to reach from the I-440 Beltline, I-40, Blue Ridge Road, Hillsborough Street (N.C. 54) and Edwards Mill Road. This guide sorts the options by how you plan to arrive. Details are from the 2026 Fair. Check the official N.C. State Fair site for 2027.
Driving and parking on site
The Fair's Getting Here and Parking page says parking is free on State Fair, Carter-Finley Football Stadium and Lenovo Center property.
Points to know:
- At the 2026 Fair, Lenovo Center parking was reserved and paid on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
- The Fair encourages drivers to take Wade Avenue to the Edwards Mill Road extension to reach these lots.
- Recreational vehicles may not stay in Fair-managed spaces between midnight and 8 a.m.
- Neighbors often sell parking on their own property. The Fair does not control those lots.
From most directions, the Fair's route ends the same way: take the Wade Avenue exit, then exit at Edwards Mill Road and follow signs to State Fair parking. The Fair's page lists turn by turn routes from Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Rocky Mount, Charlotte and Virginia.
Accessible parking
Visitors with handicap permits should park in the paved lot at Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road, near Gate 10. The Fair says it has more than 100 designated spaces and a valid permit is required. Overflow goes to Carter-Finley Stadium. Our accessible parking guide has the full details.
Free park and ride lots
At the 2026 Fair, two off-site lots offered free parking and free shuttles that ran continuously.
Bandwidth Dogwood Lot
- 4501 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. Enter from Reedy Creek Road.
- The Fair calls it the easiest lot to reach, with quick access to I-40 via Wade Avenue.
- Shuttles drop off and pick up across Trinity Road from Gate 8, on the Carter-Finley Stadium side.
HWY 54 Cardinal Lot
- 5766 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, just past I-40 Exit 290.
- Shuttles drop off and pick up across from Gate 7 off Youth Center Drive.
The Fair posts lot hours each year. Check its page before you go.
GoRaleigh shuttle from Dix Park
GoRaleigh ran a State Fair shuttle from October 15 to 25, 2026. Per GoRaleigh:
- Park at Dix Park Sunflower Field, Lot A on Hunt Drive.
- Non-stop express buses ran every 30 minutes, from 8:30 a.m. to Fair closing.
- Riders were dropped off and picked up at Gate 1.
- Seniors 65 and older and passengers with disabilities rode at half fare.
- Children under 40 inches tall rode free.
- Payment was by cash or the UMO app. The GoPass was not valid on State Fair routes.
GoDurham express from downtown Durham
The Fair says GoDurham ran free express buses in 2026 from Durham Station, 515 W. Pettigrew St., to Gate 1. Buses ran hourly from 8 a.m. to Fair closing. Seating was limited, so plan ahead.
NC By Train
During the 2026 Fair, NC By Train made a special stop right outside Gate 1, from October 15 to 25. The Fair's page notes:
- Book with station code NSF at NCByTrain.org.
- Make sure your return ticket departs from NSF, not Raleigh Union Station.
- Tickets are valid only for the train on your reservation.
- Return to the Amtrak hospitality tent at least 20 minutes before departure.
- Get your hand stamped for re-entry before you leave the Fair, in case of delays.
Train times change, so check the Fair's page for the current schedule.
Drop-off and rideshare
The Fair's 2025 travel tips said ride sharing services and fairgoer drop-off were at Gate 1, off Hillsborough Street. The 2026 Accessibility Guide also lists Gate 1 as a drop-off option.
For a passenger with a disability, the Fair says a vehicle may also unload in the paved lot near Gate 10. The driver should tell a traffic patrol officer they are only dropping off.
Groups and buses
The Fair says motor coaches and school or church buses drop off and pick up at the Bus Transit Zone at Gate 1. Motor coaches then park in Lot 4000 on the north side of the Lenovo Center. Church and school buses park at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Which gate fits your plan
Your arrival point decides your first gate. Here is how it lined up with our staffed rental tents at the 2026 Fair:
- Gate 10: accessible parking. Our main tent was here.
- Gate 9: the Trinity Road parking lots. We had a staffed tent.
- Gate 8: the Dogwood Lot shuttle stop across Trinity Road. We had a staffed tent.
- Gate 1: buses, the train stop and drop-off on Hillsborough Street. We had a staffed tent.
Our rental tent map shows them all. If you plan to rent a scooter, wheelchair or stroller, our pickup guide covers what to bring. At the 2026 Fair, scooters stayed inside the fair gates unless a staff member went with you, so we picked them up after you entered.
Plan for 2027
Lots, shuttles and train times change every year. Read the Fair's Getting Here and Parking page before you go in 2027. Our State Fair page will have our 2027 rental details once they are set. Questions? Call (919) 533-8846.