The State Fair is here, and here's how to get there

The lines are forming outside the front gate of the Minnesota State Fair and traffic is starting to pick up on streets in the vicinity of the fairgrounds.

It's opening day for the Great Minnesota Get Together, which officially gets underway at 6 a.m. During its 12-day run, more than a million people will take in the fair, and where there are crowds -well, um - there will be traffic.

Hip hip hooray for those driving to the fair. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has lifted road work on Snelling Avenue between Como Avenue and Hwy. 36. All lanes on Snelling Avenue are open, which should help improve the traffic flow. Still, major traffic jams can be expected on roads leading to the fair, and onsite parking lots, especially during peak times. 

The fair charges $14 to park on the fairgrounds and several fairgoers are already looking to snag a spot. Here is an early shot from outside Snelling and Hoyt Avenues.

A better option might be to use one of fair's 30 park and ride lots and take a free shuttle to the fair's Transportation Hub. Shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes between 8 a.m. to midnight.

Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit and SouthWest will provide service from 20 park and ride spots across the Twin Cities. New this year; Riders can buy their tickets in advance using the Metro Transit app. It's $5 per round trip ride on Metro Transit and MVTA buses. Service runs 8 a.m. to midnight. It costs $8 or two people for $15 on SouthWest Transit. Note the last departure from the fair leaves at 11:30 p.m.

Ridesharing is also an option. Uber is offering $15 discounts for new riders who register using the code MNSTATEFAIR.  Lyft is offering 30 percent off - up to $5 - for new riders who use the code MNSTATEFAIR when they sign up.