![\"Mid-State](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784438770_69_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThe crowds are pouring into the fairgrounds, and it doesn\u2019t take long for the parking lots to fill up right along with them. But, even if every space is taken, don\u2019t turn around just yet; there are still other ways to get to the fair.<\/p>\n
Parking at major events like the California Mid-State Fair can be tricky, but in Paso Robles, your options aren\u2019t limited.<\/p>\n
One route to take is the free fair shuttle.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, we weren\u2019t aware of that until you just let us know!\u201d said Visalia resident Demi Engstrom.<\/p>\n
SLO Safe Ride provides the shuttle service for the fair and runs like clockwork, transporting thousands of people in just the first two days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve transported about 8,500 people on the two days between the three stops that we currently have, which is the Lowe\u2019s out on Golden Hill, Albertsons off of Niblick, and we also service the local library down on 10th and Spring Street,\u201d said Todd Steeb, SLO Safe Ride Operations Supervisor.<\/p>\n
The air-conditioned shuttles are free, drop you off right in front of the fair and are running anytime the fair is open. There may also be extra entertainment on board.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe driver gave us all the information, and he had some cute little funny things that he said, and started our day good!\u201d said shuttle rider Connie Jessee.<\/p>\n
All eight motor coaches lower in the front, so wheelchairs and strollers are easy to get on and off, and the front rows are reserved for ADA folks.<\/p>\n
But there are a few things to be aware of before hopping aboard, especially when leaving the fair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you come out of the fair at the end of the night and you bought that $20 ice cream or that cinnamon roll, it can\u2019t go on the bus on the way back,\u201d Steeb said.<\/p>\n
Water, however, is allowed.<\/p>\n
But if free isn\u2019t your thing and you prefer having your car waiting for you after the fair, there\u2019s also the convenience of parking right across the street from the fairgrounds.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Monique Lopez\/KSBY News<\/p>\n
Screenshot<\/p>\n
\u201cOur main concern was being able to find the car afterward, and, with the sign over there for the main event center, we thought this was going to be the best spot,\u201d said Engstrom.<\/p>\n
The main parking is $30, cash only, and may fill up fast.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy first day was Chris Stapleton, it was extremely busy,\u201d lot attendant Mason Weiseberg said. \u201cI would say there was about 1,000 people lined up.\u201d<\/p>\n
And if the lot does fill, some nearby residents say they\u2019ll let you park in their yard for the same price.<\/p>\n
The SLO Safe Ride shuttles run from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and from noon to midnight Friday through Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The crowds are pouring into the fairgrounds, and it doesn\u2019t take long for the parking lots to fill…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":404153,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8,162125,2426,162126],"class_list":["post-404152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-mid-state-fair","tag-parking","tag-slo-safe-ride"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=404152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404152\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/404153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=404152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=404152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=404152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}