Grounds Map
Find your way around 264 acres
Twelve buildings, five parking lots and four gates, laid out in a loop off 3rd Avenue Southeast. The Grandstand anchors the north end, the Four Seasons Building sits near the main entrance, and the barns and campground run along the south edge. Here is what everything is called and where to park for it.
Gates & entrances
Main Gate (Gate 1)
The primary public entrance, open for every event. Opens onto the central plaza with Lot A immediately inside.
North Gate (Gate 2)
Second public entrance serving the Grandstand and the Graham Arena Complex. Usually the quicker way in for arena events.
South Gate (Gate 3)
RV and livestock hauler entrance, sized for gooseneck and semi turns. Connects straight to campground registration and the barns.
Service Gate (Gate 4)
Vendor and exhibitor load-in only, credential required. Opens two hours before doors and closes 30 minutes before them.
Building directory
| Key | Building | What’s there | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Four Seasons Building | Climate-controlled expo hall, 24,000 sq ft column-free. | Lot A |
| B | Graham Arena Complex | Twin 85' × 200' arena floors with grandstand seating and a shared concourse. | Lot B |
| C | Exhibition Building | The fair's historic main hall, 12,000 sq ft at ground level. | Lot A |
| D | Floral Hall & Pavilion | Indoor hall with roll-up walls and a covered patio onto the lawn. | Lot C |
| E | Grandstand & Outdoor Arena | Covered grandstand seating 4,000, with the show ring and pull track. | Lot D |
| F | Covered Show Ring | 125' × 250' covered ring with 500 bleacher seats and an announcer booth. | Lot E |
| G | Livestock Barns | Cattle, swine, and sheep & goat barns with tie stalls, pens and wash-down drains. | Lot E |
| H | Poultry & Rabbit Barn | Climate-controlled small-animal barn with cage banks and a wash station. | Lot E |
| I | 4-H Exhibit Hall | Project display and judging space for 4-H and FFA members. | Lot E |
| J | Administration Office | Events office, guest services, lost and found, and the fair office in season. | Lot A |
| K | Campground Office & Shower House | Camper check-in, hot showers, restrooms, coin laundry and the camp store. | Lot E |
| L | Maintenance & Equipment Barn | Grounds crew shop and equipment storage. Not open to the public. | Lot D |
Parking lots
About 3,500 on-site spaces
Lot A
1,200Main Gate, Four Seasons Building, Exhibition Building, midway plaza
Lot B
800North Gate and the Graham Arena Complex
Lot C
400Floral Hall & Pavilion and the ceremony lawn
Lot D
600Grandstand & Outdoor Arena, overflow for the north end
Lot E
500South Gate, the barns, the show ring and campground guests
Accessible routes
Every primary route on the grounds is paved or hard-packed, and every building has a ramped or level entry. Accessible parking is marked in all five lots, with van-accessible stalls closest to each building door. Accessible restrooms are in the Four Seasons Building, the Exhibition Building, Floral Hall & Pavilion, the Grandstand concourse and the campground shower house. For a mobility escort from your car to your seat, stop at the Administration Office (Building J) or call (507) 328-6100 at least 72 hours before your visit.
Finding your way on event days
- Gates open an hour before an event starts — come early and you get the close lot.
- Signage is color-coded: green for buildings, blue for parking, gold for restrooms and services.
- The midway plaza between Buildings A and C is the middle of everything; if you are turned around, head there.
- During the Free Fair a free shuttle loops Lots A, C and E to the Main Gate every 15 minutes.
- Cell service gets thin at a full gate — take a photo of the directory below before you head in.
On the live site this page would carry a printable PDF grounds map and an interactive map with turn-by-turn directions to each building. On this design-concept site we publish the full directory instead, so you can see every building, gate and lot at a glance.
Driving in? The Plan Your Visit page has route-by-route directions and parking details.