State Fair of Texas Tips and Tricks to Know Before You Go

1. Ne passez pas trop de temps à vous garer.

DART is a great option to save time getting to the fair. Just hop on a train to Fair Park Station and get dropped off right in front of the main gate. You can even buy your tickets through the DART GoPass app, where a current promo code gets you a discount off Fair admission. Driving instead? Parking runs $30 per space at official Fair lots, so budget a few extra minutes to find a spot on busy weekends. Either way, the time you save on transportation means more time at the Midway or a second (or third) Fletcher's Corny Dog.

2. N'essayez pas de tout faire en un jour.

The State Fair of Texas is the longest running fair in the country with open gates for 24 consecutive days from Sept. 25 through Oct. 18, 2026, and for good reason. There's so much to experience, so don't feel like you have to cram it all in one day.

3. Ne payez pas trop cher.

Save on admission by buying a season pass. If you plan to go more than once (and we think you should), a season pass pays for itself fast. The Commemorative Hard Card pass includes unlimited visits, a free Bring-A-Friend admission ticket valid Monday through Friday, complimentary access to Texas Discovery Gardens, and a parking pre-purchase discount, while the lower priced Digital Season Pass skips those extras in exchange for a better price.

The State Fair of Texas also partners with local organizations to offer discounted admission throughout the run, including Feed the Need Wednesdays for anyone who donates canned goods to the North Texas Food Bank, half-price admission for seniors on Thursdays, and a special Opening Day rate for anyone who brings peanut butter to donate. Sign up as a Big Tex Insider for Value Day promo codes and other early access to savings.

4. Don't get caught off guard at the gate.

The State Fair uses a clear bag policy for security, so leave the oversized tote at home. Bags and soft-sided coolers need to be 9 by 10 by 12 inches or smaller, and if they aren't clear, they need to fit into an even smaller 4.5 by 6.5 inch clutch. Diaper bags and medical bags get an exception and will be searched at the gate instead. There's no bag check or lockers on-site, so anything that doesn't meet the policy has to go back to the car. Planning your bag ahead of time saves you a walk back to the parking lot.

Planning to step out for a break and come back later? Grab a hand stamp before you leave. Re-entry requires one, and if you leave the parking lot, you'll pay for parking again.

5. Don't forget it's coupons, not cash.

Food, rides, and games on the Midway all run on State Fair coupons instead of cash or card, so pick some up at a booth or buy them online before you go. Each coupon is worth a dollar, and the good news is they never expire, so any leftovers from a past fair are still good today. ATMs are available throughout the grounds if you need to reload, and you'll only need cash or a card for shopping with the fair's vendors.

6. Don't miss the icons

Big Tex

Big Tex vit au centre de la foire, le long de Lone Star Boulevard et de Grand Avenue, et accueille tous les visiteurs de la foire d'une voix grave aux accents texans. De plus, le stand principal de Fletcher's Corny Dog se trouve à quelques pas, de sorte qu'un arrêt pour un selfie et un Corny Dog est idéal.

Midway

L'épicentre de l'excitation, le Midway de Fair Park, abrite les manèges, les jeux et certaines des friandises les plus savoureuses de la foire. Prévoyez de faire les manèges tôt dans la journée, car personne dans votre groupe n'a envie de voir votre cuisse de dinde une deuxième fois.

Grande roue Texas Star

Le cœur du Fair Park Midway est le Texas Star, la grande roue emblématique de Dallas. Prenez un selfie depuis le sol avant de vous envoler pour un voyage de 20 étages offrant des vues uniques sur Fair Park et la ligne d'horizon de Dallas.

Fletcher's Corny Dog

Imaginez que vous rentriez chez vous et que vous vous rendiez compte que votre plan de "revenir quand la file d'attente serait moins longue" est tombé à l'eau. Consacrez du temps à faire la queue pour avoir la chance de goûter à cette friandise classique, croyez-nous, l'attente en vaut la peine. Vous êtes végétarien ? Faites la queue, car vous pouvez vous aussi satisfaire cette fameuse envie de corn dog avec un corn dog végétarien.

Cotton Bowl

Home of the famous Red River Rivalry and State Fair Classic, the Cotton Bowl is Fair Park's symbol of victory. This year also brings back the State Fair Clásico, a soccer match between Dallas Trinity FC and a surprise international matchup. Catch one of the exciting games set to take place on this legendary field, tickets and more information here.

Palais de l'État

Set in the middle of the fairgrounds, the Hall of State is packed with historical artifacts, photos, and more, all focused on Texas history and culture. Check bigtex.com closer to opening day for this year's special exhibit, and make a visit to the Hall of State part of your time at the fair.