Transit and the Stanislaus County Fair

Ride free in July

All transit services in Merced and Stanislaus counties are free in July 2026 as part of a joint, free fare promotion. This includes the Fair Shuttle, which provides frequent, direct service between the Transit Center and Arch Gate at the Fairgrounds in support of the Stanislaus County Fair.

Expanded Service

  • All transit services will operate on extended schedules and end at midnight each day of the Fair, with Routes 1-7 departing the Transit Center at 11:30 PM. 
  • While Turlock Transit doesn't typically operate on Sundays, during the Fair all transit services will be available from 11:00 AM to midnight.
  • A dedicated, frequent, free Fair Shuttle operating each day of the Fair.

Fair Shuttle

Transit staff will be on-site during peak periods to hand out free, ice-cold waters and coupons for $2 off regular admission tickets at the Fairgrounds entrance.
  • Shuttle buses will provide regular (<10 min.), direct loops between the Transit Center and Fairgrounds Arch Gate.
  • This service will run from 3:30 PM - midnight on weekdays and 11:30 AM - midnight on weekends during the Fair.
  • All buses are air conditioned and ADA accessible.

Connect with the Fair Shuttle

The Fair Shuttle departs regularly from the Transit Center during the designated hours. You can walk, bike, drive or use transit to access the shuttle for free.
  • Transit
  • Park-n-Ride
  • Bike
  • Walk
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  • Board any fixed route bus and travel to the Transit Center
  • All routes start and end at the Transit Center
  • Walk to the pedestrian plaza area on the north side of the Transit Center building - look for the colorful pop-up canopy
  • Board the Fair Shuttle bus; take the reverse route home
  • Board a regional bus service that provides connectivity to Turlock's Transit Center, which is currently:
    • Merced's T Route
    • StanRTA's Route 10, 29T and 45
  • Walk to the pedestrian plaza area on the north side of the Transit Center building - look for the colorful pop-up canopy
  • Board the Fair Shuttle bus; take the reverse route home
  • Please note the departure times of regional transit operators to ensure you don't miss the last bus home. See the table below for reference.
Public Parking Lots
If you park in a public parking lot near a bus stop,  you can board a bus for a quick trip to the Transit Center before transferring to the free Fair Shuttle.
Transit Center
Public parking is available for free on the north side of the Transit Center (Hawkeye/Golden State) with entrances on Hawkeye and Golden State Blvd. Space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additional private security will be on-site during the peak periods of the Fair.
Ride your bike to a nearby bus stop (all buses have bike racks) or directly to the Transit Center and secure it on the bike rack. Walk to the nearby Fair Shuttle for a direct trip to the Fairgrounds; follow the reverse trip home.
If nearby, you may walk to the Transit Center and board the Fair Shuttle directly.

Shuttle Operating Hours

Weekdays: 3:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Weekends: 11:30 AM - 11:30 PM
The last shuttle bus leaves the Fairgrounds at 11:15 PM each day of the Fair.
Regular transit services will run until midnight each day of the Fair, allowing passengers to transfer from the last shuttle bus to Routes 1-7 to travel home.

Gateway to the Fair

A big "thank you" to the community members and agency partners that joined us for this year's "Gateway to the Fair" event on 7/10/26.

ADA Paratransit

This reservation-based service is available during the same extended hours as fixed route services and can provide direct service to the the Fair.  Paratransit eligibility is required. This service is free during the month of July, but trips must be scheduled at least one day in advance.  To learn more about eligibility, call (209) 284-4577 or click here. To book a reservation, please call (209) 668-5600 or use the Turlock Transit app.

On-Demand

This reservation-based service is available during the same extended hours as fixed route services and can provide direct service to the the Fair. This service is open to the general public and can serve residents of Turlock and Denair. The service is free during the month of July and trips can be scheduled anytime. To book a reservation, please call (209) 668-5600 or use the Turlock Transit app.