New York State Fairgrounds
The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre campus in Geddes, just west of Syracuse, New York, right beside I-690. Parking is free for nearly all non-Fair events, with four large lots holding nearly 14,000 vehicles. It is also home to the 13-day Great New York State Fair.
Before you go
- Capacity
- 375-acre campus; parking for about 14,000 vehicles in four lots, 9,000 more in open spaces
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: historic buildings and an Exposition Center, plus open-air and tented space
- Official site
- nysfairgrounds.ny.gov
- Next festival here
- New York State Blues Festival, Jun 10 to 12, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- Parking is free for nearly all non-Fair events unless the event's details say otherwise.
- Some lots on the Fair map are only used during the Great New York State Fair, so outside the Fair the Orange, Brown, Pink and Gray lots and open areas are used.
- Smoking of tobacco and cannabis, and any vaping, is prohibited anywhere on the grounds.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Right beside I-690 near I-90 and I-81 · Free parking at nearly all non-Fair events · Four lots for nearly 14,000 vehicles.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want free parking at a large, easy-to-reach site by the interstate.
- You want a big campus with both historic buildings and open-air space.
Think twice if
- You smoke or vape and want somewhere to do it on the grounds.
Getting there and parking
The fairgrounds are immediately adjacent to I-690, just west of Syracuse, and easy to reach from the New York State Thruway (I-90) east and west and from I-81 north and south. Follow the signs to the Fairgrounds once you enter the Syracuse area.
Four large parking lots hold nearly 14,000 vehicles, and open spaces inside the fairgrounds hold another 9,000 cars. Parking is free for nearly all non-Fair events unless an event's details say otherwise. Outside the Fair, the lots in use are the Orange, Brown, Pink and Gray lots, plus open areas of the fairgrounds.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at the New York State Fairgrounds. The venue's own pages are the place to check: nysfairgrounds.ny.gov.
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at the New York State Fairgrounds. The venue's own pages are the place to check: nysfairgrounds.ny.gov.
Food, water and what you can bring
Smoking of tobacco and cannabis, and any type of vaping, are prohibited anywhere on the Fairgrounds.
Quick answers
How do I get to the New York State Fairgrounds?
The fairgrounds sit right beside I-690, just west of Syracuse. They are easy to reach from the Thruway (I-90) and from I-81.
Is parking free at the New York State Fairgrounds?
Yes, for nearly all non-Fair events, unless an event's details say otherwise.
How many cars can park at the New York State Fairgrounds?
Four large lots hold nearly 14,000 vehicles, and open spaces inside the grounds hold another 9,000.
Can I smoke or vape at the New York State Fairgrounds?
No. Smoking of tobacco and cannabis, and any type of vaping, are prohibited anywhere on the Fairgrounds.
How big are the New York State Fairgrounds?
The campus covers 375 acres and hosts nearly 200 events and more than 800,000 visitors a year.
Is there outdoor space at the New York State Fairgrounds?
Yes. There are dozens of acres of open space for open-air or tented events, including the 60-acre paved Midway.
A little history
The fairgrounds have been in the town of Geddes, just outside Syracuse, since 1890. The campus has historic buildings and a newer Exposition Center, and hosts horse shows in the Northeast, the Syracuse Nationals classic car show, and the New York Farm Show and Dairy Carousel agricultural shows.
The Great New York State Fair runs for 13 days and is billed as the oldest and most affordable state fair in the United States.