How Much Is Parking at the LA County Fair? Lots and Prices

Eric DawsonByEric Dawson Parking

Single-day parking at the LA County Fair costs $22.50 when bought online in advance, or as much as $26 when paid at the gate. A season pass covering every day of the 2026 fair, which runs May 7 through May 31 at Fairplex in Pomona, California, costs $86.50 online. Every lot accepts cashless payment only, so cards and mobile wallets work but cash does not. Two gates lead to the parking areas: Yellow Lot through Gate 17 on Fairplex Drive, and Blue Lot through Gate 9 on White Avenue, both near the fairgrounds at 1101 W. McKinley Ave.

How Much Is Parking at the LA County Fair

A parking season pass costs $86.50 online for the fair’s May 7 through May 31, 2026 run. The 2026 fair ran for 17 days. Prices are current as of September 2026.

Parking Option Price How to Purchase Parking Duration
Single-day parking (online) $22.50 Purchase online before arriving 1 day
Single-day parking (gate) $26 Pay at the parking lot entrance 1 day
Season parking pass $86.50 Purchase online May 7 to 31, 2026 (17 days)

Buying online ahead of time saves $3.50 off the gate price. Parking, admission and concert-ticket payments are cashless, so drivers should not expect to pay cash at the parking entrance.

Is the Season Pass Worth It

A season pass costs less than four single-day visits at the advance rate. Four advance-rate days would cost 4 times $22.50, or $90 total, so the $86.50 season pass costs $3.50 less, assuming advance online parking was available for each visit. Fairgoers planning four or more trips can compare that total with the pass price. A single planned visit is cheaper with the standard $22.50 advance rate.

The table below lays out the math for anyone weighing repeat trips against a single pass.

Number of Visits Cost at the $22.50 Rate Cost of the $86.50 Pass Cheaper Choice
1 day $22.50 $86.50 Single-day pass
2 days $45.00 $86.50 Single-day pass
3 days $67.50 $86.50 Single-day pass
4 days $90.00 $86.50 Season pass
5 days $112.50 $86.50 Season pass
6 days $135.00 $86.50 Season pass

Anyone crossing the four-visit mark saves money with the pass at the published advance rate, assuming advance online parking was available for each visit. Each additional visit raises the total cost of single-day parking while the season-pass price remains $86.50.

When Is the LA County Fair Open in 2026

The fair runs on specific days within its May 7 to May 31 span rather than every calendar date. It opens Thursday through Sunday each week, plus one extra Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.

Fair Weekend Dates Days
Weekend 1 May 7 to 10 Thursday to Sunday
Weekend 2 May 14 to 17 Thursday to Sunday
Weekend 3 May 21 to 24 Thursday to Sunday
Memorial Day May 25 Monday
Weekend 4 May 28 to 31 Thursday to Sunday

A season parking pass still covers the full May 7 to 31 window, so it works on every one of those seventeen operating days without another purchase. Someone planning to attend on a Tuesday or Wednesday should double check the calendar first, since the fair is closed those days apart from the Memorial Day exception.

Knowing the pattern ahead of time also helps with the season pass math from the earlier table, because the more of those seventeen days a visitor actually attends, the more the $86.50 pass outperforms paying $22.50 or $26 again and again.

Where to Park: Yellow Lot and Blue Lot

Fairplex splits fairgoers between two lots, Yellow Lot at Gate 17 and Blue Lot at Gate 9, and both put visitors within a short walk or shuttle ride of the gates. Yellow Lot sits on the west side of the grounds off Fairplex Drive, closer to the carnival midway and main entrance.

Blue Lot sits on the east side off White Avenue, closer to the farm and animal exhibit area. Fairplex’s full address is 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and both gates connect directly to that property.

Parking Lot Gate Number Location Best For
Yellow Lot Gate 17 Fairplex Drive entrance Carnival rides and main entrance
Blue Lot Gate 9 White Avenue entrance Farm and animal exhibits

Which Lot Should You Choose

Yellow Lot is the shorter walk for carnival rides, games, and the main entrance. Blue Lot puts visitors closer to the farm animals, 4-H exhibits, and the agricultural side of the grounds. Either lot works for concerts and the midway, since internal walkways and the tram connect both sides once inside.

Is There ADA or Accessible Parking at the Fair

General parking costs $22.50 in advance online or $26 at the gate for the 2026 fair. Visitors who need confirmed accessible arrangements should call Fairplex guest services at (909) 623-3111 or email info@fairplex.com before the trip. Neither the fair’s general information page nor the local news coverage used for this guide lists ADA-specific procedures, so a direct call remains the most reliable way to confirm current accessible parking locations.

Both Yellow Lot and Blue Lot funnel into the same Gate 17 and Gate 9 entrances used by every other visitor, so any accessible spaces would sit inside those same two lots rather than a separate area of the grounds.

How to Get Parking Before You Arrive

Buying parking online before arrival provides the $22.50 advance rate, compared with $26 at the gate. The 2026 fair offered single-day general parking and a $86.50 parking season pass.

  1. Check the parking options. Look for advance parking information before the trip.
  2. Choose a pass type. Pick single-day parking for one visit or the season pass for repeat trips.
  3. Use a cashless payment method. Cash is not accepted for parking, admission or concert tickets.
  4. Save the confirmation. Keep any digital parking confirmation ready when arriving.

The 2026 parking season pass covered the May 7 through May 31 fair run, which lasted 17 days. Advance purchase also matters because parking is cashless, and buying online costs less than paying the published gate rate.

I would buy a single-day pass online unless I had firm plans to drive to the fair at least four times. The season pass costs $86.50, while four advance single-day purchases total $90, a difference of $3.50 when advance online parking is available for each visit. For one, two, or three visits, the advance pass leaves more money available for the fair itself. Buying online is the clearer choice either way because it costs less than paying at the gate.

Directions to Fairplex from Los Angeles

Drivers from Los Angeles take the 10 Freeway east and exit at Fairplex Drive, then turn left and follow the posted signs into the fairgrounds. An alternate route exits the 10 at White Avenue and follows directional signage from there instead.

Both exits connect straight to the gates for Yellow Lot and Blue Lot, so the choice mostly comes down to which side of the fair a visitor plans to enter first. Checking a map against the Yellow Lot and Blue Lot table earlier in this guide before leaving home makes it easier to pick the right freeway exit on the first try instead of circling the fairgrounds looking for the correct gate.

Getting to the Fair Without Driving

Public transit reaches Fairplex through two routes that avoid parking altogether. Metro’s A Line stops at La Verne/Fairplex Station, located across Arrow Highway from the venue, within walking distance of the gates. Metrolink riders can get off at Pomona Station and transfer to Foothill Transit route 197, which runs to the fairgrounds.

Either route skips the parking fee completely, which matters for visitors without a car or anyone hoping to avoid the $22.50 to $26 charge. Riders comparing the two should weigh a short walk from the A Line station against a bus transfer from Metrolink, since travel time from each starting point in the region will differ.

What Happens After You Park

Fairplex runs a tram shuttle on most days to carry visitors from the parking lots to the yellow entrance, cutting down the walk from the farthest rows. The fair itself opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 11 p.m. on every operating day.

Those operating days fall Thursday through Sunday each week of the run, plus Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026. Gate staff scan tickets and parking passes on phones, so visitors should have both ready before reaching the front of the line.

Published fair materials do not list a separate charge for the tram, so treat the ride as part of what the parking payment already covers. Arriving a little before the 11 a.m. opening also spreads out the crowd moving through the tram line and both entrance gates at once.

Tips for a Faster Parking Experience

A handful of small choices cut real time off the walk from car to gate. Each one comes straight from how Fairplex structures its parking, ticketing, and shuttle service, and none of them require anything beyond a little planning before leaving the house.

  1. Buy online first. Locking in the $22.50 rate ahead of time also means skipping the gate purchase line entirely.
  2. Bring a card, not cash. Every Fairplex gate, including parking, runs cashless only.
  3. Match your lot to your plans. Yellow Lot suits the carnival and main entrance, while Blue Lot suits the farm and animal exhibits.
  4. Keep the confirmation handy. Having the digital pass already open saves time compared with searching for an email at the gate.
  5. Watch for the tram. Fairplex runs a shuttle from the lots to the yellow entrance most days, which helps anyone parked toward the back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Pay Cash for LA County Fair Parking?

No, every Fairplex parking lot accepts cashless payment only. Visitors need a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet to pay at the gate or online. Fairplex does not accept cash for parking, food, rides, or ticket booths handling admission sales.

Does the Season Parking Pass Cover Every Fair Day?

Yes, the $86.50 season pass covers parking for the full May 7 through May 31 window of the 2026 fair. That includes every Thursday through Sunday date plus the Memorial Day Monday on May 25. One purchase removes the need to buy a new pass for each visit.

Does a Single-Day Parking Pass Work for More than One Day?

No, a single-day pass, whether bought online for $22.50 or at the gate for $26, covers one calendar day of parking only. Anyone returning on a different day needs another single-day pass or the $86.50 season pass. Only the season pass covers repeat visits without buying parking again.

What Are the LA County Fair Hours?

The fair runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on every operating day. Operating days cover Thursday through Sunday each week of the run, with an added Monday for Memorial Day on May 25, 2026.

Is There a Shuttle from the Parking Lot to the Fair Entrance?

Fairplex runs a tram shuttle most days between the parking lots and the yellow entrance. The shuttle cuts down the walk for anyone parked in the back rows of Yellow Lot or Blue Lot. Shuttle service is not guaranteed on every single day, so arriving fairgoers should watch for tram signage near the lot entrance.

Can You Get to the LA County Fair Without a Car?

Two transit routes reach Fairplex without driving. Metro’s A Line stops at La Verne/Fairplex Station, an easy walk across Arrow Highway from the venue. Metrolink riders can also reach Pomona Station and transfer to Foothill Transit route 197, which runs directly to the fairgrounds. Both options skip the parking fee entirely.

Parking at the LA County Fair comes down to a simple choice: pay $22.50 in advance, $26 at the gate, or $86.50 for unlimited access across the full 25-day run. Buying ahead saves money and time at the gate, and picking the right lot, Yellow for the carnival side or Blue for the animal exhibits, shortens the walk once inside.

References

Sources read in September 2026.

Eric Dawson

I'm Eric Dawson, and I write The Money Watch from north Columbus, Ohio. Most of what I cover comes from my own life: renting, a 2014 Honda Fit, parking, computers, food and the bills behind all of it. I spent four years in an apartment-property office and eleven on a distributor's operations desk, reading leases and invoices. Where you need real information, I research the maker's or agency's own page and independent sources and report what they publish. I don't give tax, investment, legal or medical advice.