Getting There
Getting to the Des Moines Arts Festival
Please note: Parking in city parking ramps is free on Saturday and Sunday, not Friday.
Leaving the Des Moines Arts Festival
BIKE VALET:
Get on your favorite trail and ride it downtown, knowing you can valet your bike for free! Just take your bike to the bike corral hosted by Friends of Central Iowa Trails at the corner of 15th St. and Grand Ave. Click here to view a map of local bike trails leading to the Des Moines Arts Festival.
VALET CAR PARKING:
Bypass finding a parking spot by valet parking your car 13th and Walnut for $10/car. To reach the valet parking: Westbound traffic from I-235 exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and take a left. Travel south on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and follow roadway east (take a left) along the south side of Downtown Des Moines after passing over Ingersoll and under Grand Ave. Turn left on 12th St., then left on Walnut. Take Walnut to 13th St. Eastbound traffic from I-235 exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. And take a right. Follow the same directions as above.
PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE:
A shuttle service runs every 10-15 minutes from the 7th and Center St. Park & Ride ramp located between 6th and 7th St., south of Crocker. The cost of the shuttle is $.50 each way, and children five years of age and younger ride FREE. Shuttle hours are:
Friday, June 26 3:30p.m. - 10:30p.m.
Saturday, June 27 9:30a.m. - 10:30p.m.
Sunday, June 28 9:30a.m. - 5:30p.m.
To get to the Park & Ride ramp from I-235 east, take the 7th St. exit. Take a left onto 7th St. and a left into the 7th & Center Park & Ride. From I-235 west, take the Downtown Exit (3rd/5th/7th Streets). Follow signs to 7th St. Take a right onto 7th St. and a left into the 7th & Center Park & Ride.
FREE PARKING:
Nationwide/Allied Insurance is providing parking free of charge in their ramps at 12th and Mulberry and 12th and Cherry. Additional free parking is available in the city lot located at SW 11th and Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. during Festival hours. City meters are free after 6 p.m. on Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Please note: Parking in city parking ramps is free on Saturday and Sunday, not Friday.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From the West on I-80
Take I-80 to I-235 east
Take I-235 to Downtown Des Moines
Exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and take a right. Travel south on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and follow roadway east (take a left) along the south side of Downtown Des Moines after passing over Ingersoll and under Grand Ave. Along Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. there are several parking options (the following are presented from west to east):
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 1: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a right onto Mulberry St. and a quick left into parking ramp.
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 2: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a left onto Cherry Street and a right into the parking ramp.
11th Street Parking Lot: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn right on SW 11th St. Take a quick left into the parking lot.
From the East on I-80
Exit I-80 onto I-235 west (left-hand exit)
Take I-235 to Downtown Des Moines
Exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and take a left. Travel south on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and follow roadway east (take a left) along the south side of Downtown Des Moines after passing over Ingersoll and under Grand Ave. Along Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. there are several parking options (the following are presented from west to east):
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 1: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a right onto Mulberry St. and a quick left into parking ramp.
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 2: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a left onto Cherry Street and a right into the parking ramp.
11th Street Parking Lot: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn right on SW 11th St. Take a quick left into the parking lot.
From the North on I-35
Take I-35 to I-235 west
Take I-235 to Downtown Des Moines
Exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and take a left. Travel south on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and follow roadway east (take a left) along the south side of Downtown Des Moines.
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 1: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a right onto Mulberry St. and a quick left into parking ramp.
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 2: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a left onto Cherry St. and a right into the parking ramp.
11th Street Parking Lot: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn right on SW 11th St. Take a quick left into the parking lot.
From the South on I-35
Exit I-35 onto I-235 east
Take I-235 to Downtown Des Moines
Exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and take a right. Travel south on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. and follow roadway east (take a left) along the south side of Downtown Des Moines.
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 1: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a right onto Mulberry St. and a quick left into parking ramp.
Nationwide/Allied Parking Ramp 2: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn left on 12th St. Take a left onto Cherry Street and a right into the parking ramp.
11th Street Parking Lot: From Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., turn right on SW 11th St. Take a quick left into the parking lot.
