Can you park for free at the NC State Fair? What to know about lots + shuttles

Finding parking at the NC State Fair can be tricky, but a little planning goes a long way.

You can save some cash by using one of the free designated lots, but your car won’t be right by the entrance. It might take a short walk or shuttle ride to reach the fairgrounds, but the savings are worth it.

Here’s everything you need to know about free parking and shuttles at this year’s fair.

Can I park for free at the NC State Fair?

Yes. There are several lots where you can park for free, and some even have shuttle service to the fairgrounds, so you can skip the long walk.

Here are the free parking lots:

• Dogwood Lot
• Cardinal Lot
• Carter-Finley Stadium
• Lenovo Center

Note: There may be exceptions if events are scheduled at Carter-Finley (no NC State home football games are on the schedule) or Lenovo Center (there are concerts scheduled for Oct. 16, 17 and 25).

There are also free off-site parking lots with a free shuttle service to the fairgrounds:

• Park at the corner of Edwards Mill and Reedy Creek. Shuttle pick-up and drop-off will be across from Gate 8 on Trinity Road.
• Park off Hwy 54/Chapel Hill Road just past I-40 Exit 290. Shuttle pick-up and drop-off will be across from Gate 7 on Youth Center Drive.

Can I take free shuttles to the NC State Fair?

Yes. The fair will have several park-and-ride shuttles running from off-site lots straight to the entry gates.

Each lot will have accessible shuttles available too, so everyone can get to the fair with ease.

• Dogwood Lot: The shuttle drops visitors off at Gate 8 of the fair. The address is 4501 Reedy Creek Rd. in Raleigh.
• Cardinal Lot: The shuttle drops visitors off at Gate 7 of the fair. The address is 5766 Chapel Hill Road Rd. in Raleigh.

Both lots will be open from 9 a.m. until an hour after the fair gates close each day (with slightly different hours on Friday, Oct. 17).

Shuttles won’t run from Carter-Finley Stadium or the Lenovo Center, and keep in mind, free parking at those spots may not be available if other events are happening there.

Can I pay for parking closer to the fairgrounds?

Yes. There are a few private lots near the fairgrounds that charge for parking.

During the fair, some nearby residents even open up their yards or driveways for visitors, giving you a few extra spots to choose from – for a fee, of course.

Will Amtrak drop me off at the fairgrounds?

Yes. Starting Oct. 16, NC By Train will make several daily stops at the State Fairgrounds for passengers coming from Charlotte, Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, and Cary.

Here’s a breakdown of the four special routes for getting to and from the fair:

• Take Carolinian train 80 from Charlotte at 6:45 a.m. to get to fairgrounds at 10:22 a.m.
• Take Piedmont train 72 from Charlotte at 10:25 a.m. to get to fairgrounds at 1:58 p.m.
• Take Piedmont train 77 from the fairgrounds at 3:15 p.m. to get to Charlotte at 6:35 p.m.
• Take Carolinian train 79 from the fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m. to get to Charlotte at 9:10 p.m.

This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM.

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.