Fast, easy service from a free parking lot near you
Express buses serve the State Fair Transit Hub, which is on the west side of the fairgrounds near West End Market. Bus departure times are approximate.
All Express service is wheelchair accessible
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Every Day Aug. 21 - Sept. 1
Weekday service begins at 8 a.m.
Weekend & Labor Day service begins at 8 a.m.
Buses leave approximately every 30 minutes
Last return bus is midnight every day of the Fair except for Labor Day (11 p.m.).
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| Pay with cash or Metro Transit app |
Service approximately every 30 minutes
1 Maple Grove – Weekends and Labor Day only. 12350 Main St.
2 Blaine - 95th Ave. Park & Ride, NW corner of I-35W & 95th Ave. NE
3 Maplewood - Maplewood Mall Park & Ride, NE corner of Beam Ave. and Southlawn Dr.
4 Minnetonka - I-394 & Co. Rd. 73 Park & Ride, SW corner of I-394 & Co. Rd. 73
5 Bloomington - 30th Ave. Park & Ride, NW corner of 30th Ave. and 82nd St.
6 Cottage Grove - Cottage Grove Park & Ride, along Hwy. 61 on W. Point Douglas Rd. between 80th St. and Jamaica Ave.
State Fair Express hours of operation
Monday – Friday
- Express service begins at 8 a.m.
- Last bus leaves State Fair at midnight
- Service from Maple Grove is weekends and Labor Day only
Weekends
- Express service begins at 8 a.m.
- Last bus leaves State Fair at midnight
Labor Day
- Express service begins at 8 a.m.
- Last bus leaves State Fair at 11 p.m.
Cost
$6 cash roundtrip
Exact fare only; no change available. Disabled veterans ride free by showing a "Service Connected" ID. Go-To Cards and passes, tokens, and coupons are not accepted on State Fair Express buses
$5 Metro Transit app ticket
Save time and money with the Metro Transit app
Kids ages four and under ride State Fair Express buses for free.
Go-To Cards and passes, tokens, and coupons are not accepted on State Fair Express buses.
Additional Express service
7 Burnsville – Burnsville Transit Station, Hwy. 13 & Nicollet Ave.
8 Eagan – Eagan Transit Station, Yankee Doodle & Pilot Knob Rd. at I-35E
9 Shakopee – Southbridge Crossings Park & Ride, 1401 Crossings Blvd.
Fares
Round-trip fare is $6 via the RideMVTA App (available on the Google Play Store or Apple Store) or $6 cash (exact amount, drivers don’t make change) or $6 credit or debit card when departing (exact amount, drivers don’t make change). Children 5 and under ride free.
MVTA departure schedule
Bus departure times are the same at all three MVTA locations:
Buses are scheduled to depart starting at 7 a.m. and are scheduled to leave every 15-20 minutes until 7 p.m. (Times may vary due to traffic).
(On Labor Day, the last trip time is 5 p.m.)
MVTA return from the Fair schedule
Return trip times are the same for all three MVTA locations:
Buses are scheduled to return from the fairgrounds starting at noon and are scheduled to leave every 15-20 minutes until 11:30 p.m. (Times may vary due to traffic).
(On Labor Day, the last return trip is 9:30 p.m.)
More information at mvta.com
Service to the Fair runs 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
10 Eden Prairie - SouthWest Station, 13500 Technology Dr.
11 Chanhassen - SouthWest Village, Hwy. 212 & Hwy. 101
12 Chaska - East Creek Station, Hwy. 212 & Hwy. 41
13 Carver Station - 1607 Harwell Dr., Carver
SouthWest Transit Fares
Standard fare: $6
Children 5 and under: Free
Disabled veterans with proper ID: Free
More information at swtransit.org
NOTE: Metro Transit app tickets are not valid at SouthWest Transit locations.