Avid fairgoers were already lining up to get into opening day of the Minnesota State Fair as vehicles at 5:30 a.m. were parked outside the Hoyt Avenue gate and on Snelling Avenue.
Driving might be an option for earlybirds, but fair spokeswoman Danielle Dullinger says taking the bus may be the best option. The fair has about 7,200 parking spaces on its grounds (and they cost $14 per vehicle), but "they fill quickly," she said. One of the first to fill up, the Robin Lot off Hoyt Avenue, where many fairgoers were already waiting to get in.
More than 1 million people, or about half of fair attendees, arrive by bus, either a free shuttle operated by the fair or express bus operated by Metro Transit, SouthWest Transit or Minnesota Valley Transit Authority.
"We ask people to be patient," Dullinger said. .
PARK AND RIDE FROM STATE FAIR LOTS
The State Fair operates free shuttles from 34 parking lots starting at 8 a.m. This includes the University of Minnesota lots with 4,000 parking spaces. New sites this year include North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills and Calvary Church in White Bear Township.
Shuttles run to and from the 34 lots from 8 a.m. to midnight. But even with so many lots, they often fill up by 9 a.m. on busy days, like opening day, Dullinger said
"Have a backup option if your lot is full," she said.
