Guest Services

Banking Services

ATMs will be offered on-site.

Camping (Fair Only)

Find out more at on our camping page.

Conditions for Admission

The safety of our fairgoers, exhibitors and employees is our top priority. Prior to entry, you will be asked to walk through a metal detector (magnetometer). All patrons, vendors, concessionaires, and exhibitors must wear shirts and shoes while on the property.

Bags
Purses, backpacks, book bags, coolers, strollers, etc. are permitted, but are subject to search. Bag searches may also be conducted for guests entering concerts and events in the WCOL Celeste Center.

Prohibited items
Several items are expressly prohibited at the Ohio State Fair, including: illegal weapons and substances; the use of bicycles in non-parking areas, the possession or use of Segways/hoverboards, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, mopeds, motorcycles, and other two-wheel vehicles; the use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones); pets (other than service animals or animals used as a part of a competition); laser pointers; selfie sticks; glass bottles and containers; and any form of apparel including face masks meant to conceal the wearer’s identity (permitted for religious and health reasons).

Prohibited activities
Roving solicitations, vending, and selling are not permitted except when confined to a contracted booth or space. Picketing, protests, or other demonstrations are not permitted.

Outside food and beverage
You may bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Glass bottles and containers are not permitted on grounds.

The Ohio Expositions Commission reserves the right to use photographs and video of any and all individuals taken on grounds for purposes including but not limited to advertising and promotion. The Ohio Expositions Commission may edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish and distribute this photo for purposes as it sees fit. By entering the grounds, I agree that my photo or likeness may be used.

Accessibility

The Ohio State Fair is committed to inclusion and accessibility. Read more about our services in our online Accessibility Guide, or contact us at info@expo.ohio.gov or 614-644-3247 if you have any questions regarding your visit.

First Aid / EMS Center

9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Medical assistance is provided in this air-conditioned medical center located just inside the Cardinal Gate, north of Kasich Hall.

Infant Care & Nursing Stations

The Ohio State Fair offers a large, air-conditioned Infant Care & Nursing Stations. Located in Kiddieland, parents can change their children’s diapers, and mothers who prefer to breastfeed their children in privacy can do so comfortably. Additional nursing stations are located in Kasich Hall and the Bricker MarketPlace Building.

Lost and Found

Our lost and found office during the Ohio State Fair is organized and managed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and is located on grounds near Gate 3 at the north end of the Mountain Dew Midway. If you realize you have lost an item after leaving the Fair, please call (614) 466-6666.

Lost Children booths

The Ohio State Highway Patrol staffs a booth at both of the main entrance gates (Cardinal and OHIO Gates) with "Lost Kid Tags.” The tags help identify the child if he or she gets separated from his or her parents. You can also call the Highway Patrol headquarters at (614) 466-6666 for more information.

Parking

In 2025, parking at the Ohio State Fair will be $10. Parking will be available to purchase with admission on May 1 or on site upon arrival to the Fair. Reserved parking is not available to the general public for purchase. Parking is accessible from I-71 at the 17th Avenue exit and the Hudson Street exit at Silver Drive.

Free Park-and-Ride

Ohio State Fair guests can park for free at Columbus State Community College, and ride free in air-conditioned shuttles to the 11th Avenue entry gate (the OHIO Gate).

Directions
From I-71, get off at the Spring Street exit. Click here for additional directions, including videos of how to access Columbus State Community College.

Address (for use in GPS navigation systems/mapping):
534 E Long Street, Columbus, OH 43215

Parking Map
Park for free in any of the red maps shown on the park-and-ride map. Please note that there may be signs posted about paying to park, as the college does charge for parking outside of the designated lots and outside of the Ohio State Fair dates in the designated lots. If you are attending the Ohio State Fair July 23 - Aug. 3 and park in the red lots, you do not need to pay to park.

Free Park-and-Ride Shuttle
The free parking shuttle will pick up and drop off at the intersection of Washington and Spring Street, shown on the park-and-ride map with a yellow star. At the Ohio State Fair, the shuttle will pick up and drop off at the 11th Avenue gate (the OHIO Gate).

Free Park-and-Ride Shuttle Hours
Monday - Friday – 10 a.m. – Midnight
Saturday and Sunday* (except Sunday, Aug. 3) - 9 a.m. – Midnight
Sunday, Aug. 3* – 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. (To ensure timely entry, all guests planning to take the off-site shuttle should arrive at the off-site lot by 5 p.m., as entry gates close at 6 p.m. The fair closes promptly at 9 p.m., so all guests should plan to arrive by approximately 8:15 p.m. to catch shuttles back to the parking lot.)

Pet Policy

Pets are not permitted on the grounds during the Fair with the exception of service dogs or animals approved as part of an exhibition or competition (such as livestock and 4-H events). Service animals are those that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Patrons attempting to bring non-service animals into the Fair, including emotional support, comfort, therapy, companion, and all other animals not included in the scope of service animals, will be asked to remove those animals from the Fair for the safety of our guests and the pets. Service animal relief areas with waste receptacles will be available on the Rhodes Center Lawn, in Central Park, and in Natural Resources Park.

Shuttles

Parking Shuttles

Free O'Reilly Auto Parts Parking Shuttles powered by SuperStart Batteries are available in the general parking lots, which are accessible from I-71 at the 17th Avenue exit and the Hudson Street exit at Silver Drive. Ride the complimentary shuttles to and from the main entrance gate and your vehicle.

On-Grounds Shuttles

Our complimentary shuttle makes frequent stops approximately every 20 minutes at pre-determined locations around the perimeter of the grounds as listed on the map.

Water Bottle Refill Stations

Water bottle refill stations are available for the convenience of our guests in the following locations: Water bottle refill stations can be found in the Ag-Pro Companies Taft Coliseum, Bricker MarketPlace Building, Lausche Youth Exploration Space presented by the Ohio Soybean Council, Kasich Hall, Rhodes Center, WCOL Celeste Center, Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center presented by Ag Pro Companies, and Natural Resources Park.

Wheelchair, Stroller, Wagon, and Locker Rentals

HomeTown Mobility is proud to be the exclusive scooter and wheelchair rental provider for the Ohio State Fair. A limited number of wheelchairs and scooters are held for walk-up customers on a first-come, first-served basis.

Single Stroller - $20/day
Double Stroller - $25/day
Wagon - $20/day
Manual wheelchair - $20/day*
Electric scooter - $75/day (8 a.m. - 11 p.m.)*
Storage cubicles (lockers) - $5/day

Compliments of Accessible Ohio, an Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) program, a $10 off coupon is available to use toward an electric scooter rental for individuals who have a physical or mental condition that affects their ability to navigate the fairgrounds. Access the digital coupon online, or pick up a paper coupon at the OOD mobile unit, which is located just outside of the Lausche Youth Exploration Space near the Cardinal Gate. The digital coupon can be printed or opened using a smartphone for easy access. Coupons may be redeemed at either of the two HomeTown Mobility locations at the Fair, located inside the Cardinal Gate and the Ohio Gate.

*Advance reservations for manual wheelchairs or electric scooters

HomeTown Mobility accepts advance reservations online at htmia.com or by calling 1-712-938-2029 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. The company is open seven days a week during the Fair to accept call-in reservations and answer questions from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. There is an additional $5 processing fee for all call-in reservations. Reservations will ONLY be accepted for full day scooter and wheelchair rentals. Reservations are not accepted for strollers, wagons, or storage cubicles. Reservations need to be made 24 hours in advance. A driver’s license or state ID is required for all rentals. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance to receive a full refund, minus a $5 cancellation fee.

HomeTown Mobility is located inside the main Cardinal Gate and the OHIO Gate. Accessible parking is available in the main parking lots near the Cardinal Gate. Buses, ride shares, and the free park-and-ride drop off at or near the OHIO Gate.

Walk-up rental of manual wheelchairs and electric scooters

A limited number of wheelchairs and electric scooters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. It is highly recommended that you reserve a unit to ensure you have a rental for the day of your visit.

Have a question not answered on this page?

Please feel free to call the Ohio State Fair at 614-644-FAIR (614-644-3247) or 1-888-OHO-EXPO (1-888-646-3976), or email us at info@expo.ohio.gov.

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. Guests should attend only after evaluating their own health risks. Your entry onto the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair property constitutes your understanding of these risks, and you voluntarily assume such risks related to exposure to COVID-19. The Ohio Expositions Commission cannot be held liable if you contract COVID-19. Help protect yourself by following safety protocols, and state and local public health mandates.