Ohio State Fair · visitor guide
Ohio State Fair
The Ohio State Fair fills the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus with rides, live music, livestock and the famous butter cow over a roughly 12-day late-summer stretch, a tidy stop for an RV loop through central Ohio. The official site lists the 2026 run as July 29 through August 9. The Expo Center has on-site fair camping (the Korbel lots), but for the 2026 fair the official site says all camping reservations will be for livestock exhibitors only, so most travelers should base at a nearby park.
Typical dates
Typically late July into early August; the 2026 run is Jul 29 - Aug 9 per the official site (confirm yearly).
Host city & length
Columbus · Jul 29 - Aug 9, 2026 · 12 days
Where
Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds, 717 East 17th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43211
Nearest RV base
The Ohio Expo Center has on-site fair camping (Korbel lots), but for the 2026 fair the official site states all camping reservations will be for livestock exhibitors only, so general fairgoers should plan to base at a Columbus-area RV park and drive in. Reserve early.
Plan it honestly
Because 2026 fair-time on-site camping is limited to livestock exhibitors per the official site, general RV travelers should book a Columbus-area park early; lots and parks can sell out months ahead. Dates shift yearly, so confirm on the official site first.
Confirm this year's dates on the official fair site: Ohio State Fair (official event site, ohiostatefair.com) .