The Iowa State Fairgrounds was originally the Charles Thornton Farmstead and has been the home of the rewnoned Iowa State Fair since 1886. Spread across 435 acres (176.03 hectares), these sprawling grounds also have historic buildings and are registered on the National Register of Historic Places. These include structures like the primary house and barn, the 1902 Livestock Pavilion, and the 1904 Agriculture Building. Around half of the open space is used for the annual fair and the remaining is enjoyed as a campground. The entire area is divided into departments, which host concerts, flea markets, livestock exhibitions, and antiques, auto, and trade shows. If you're in Des Moines during the Iowa State Fair, put it at the top of your to-do list.
Website: iowastatefairgrounds.org
Phone: (515) 262-3111
Cross Streets: Between Pioneer and E 34th Ct
Closed now
- Sat Closed
3000 E Grand Ave Des Moines, IA 50317 ·789.19 mi
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Amenities
- Family friendly
Reviews
tripadvisor
Traveled from TN. Worth the drive. Plan trip carefully. No shuttles to get there. Altoona good area to stay close. Spent 2 days. So much to see and do. It’s very busy day and night.
MoreVisited from Los Angeles (our local fair is nothing like this!) and had a wonderful time. From the butter cow, egg on a stick and agriculture to the amazing Peter Noone, who put on a fabulous (and free!) show, it was a really authentic and fun experience. Highly recommend a visit!
MoreLoved this experience, highly recommend. We traveled from Maryland. Saw the butter cow and experience all of the great food and fair.
MoreGreat fair. Lots to do and see; food fair average as compared to a few other fair venues. Definitely recommend taking city bus ($1 per person) from the Capitol. Easy to park and return later.
MoreMy husband and I visited the fair on Friday, August 8, 2025. We got there early and parked in parking lot A. Be prepared for a long line to get into the parking area. Parking was $10. The fair opens at 9:00 and the buildings open at 10:00. We purchased tickets online before the fair opened. They were a couple dollars cheaper at $11. We have been to other state fairs and we were disappointed because the food was not as good and there were no bands anywhere. The exposition center had mainly businesses and very little hand crafted items to purchase. We found the Minnesota State Fair and the Wisconsin State Fair to be so much better.
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