Iowa State Fair · visitor guide
Iowa State Fair
The Iowa State Fair is one of the oldest and largest agricultural expositions in the country, drawing more than a million visitors to Des Moines each August for the Butter Cow, the grandstand and miles of food and farm exhibits. The official site lists the 2026 run as August 13 through 23, with an 'America250' theme honoring the nation's 250th birthday. Uniquely, the fairgrounds runs a large on-site campground with 2,300+ hookup sites, making it one of the rare state fairs where you can camp right on the property.
Typical dates
Typically 11 days in mid-August; the 2026 run is Aug 13-23 per the official site (confirm yearly).
Host city & length
Des Moines · Aug 13-23, 2026 · America250 theme
Where
Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 East Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50317
Nearest RV base
The Iowa State Fairgrounds Campground sits on the property with 2,300+ water/electric hookup sites. Fair-time reservations are taken only for the full 14-day camping period, while overnight and weekend campers are first-come; either way, plan ahead and keep an area private park around Des Moines as a fallback.
Plan it honestly
Fair-time camping at the fairgrounds is in heavy demand; full-run reservations are taken in advance while overnight/weekend spots are first-come, so plan early or line up an area park as backup. Dates change yearly, so verify the run on the official site before planning your route.
Confirm this year's dates on the official fair site: Iowa State Fair (official event site, iowastatefair.org) .