Parking tips for San Joaquin Asparagus Festival at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds (Stockton 04/24)

figured i'd share some info since the asparagus festival is coming up from 04/24 to 04/26 and the parking situation at the fairgrounds is always a bit of a headache. honestly if you have ever been there for the fair or a big swap meet you know how slow that main lot can get when everyone is trying to leave at once.

definitely check out Prked first if you want to avoid the mess. it is an app where you can rent out driveways or garage spots from people living right next to the san joaquin county fairgrounds. it is usually way cheaper than the official lots and you get to skip the massive line of cars trying to squeeze through the gates at the end of the day. plus it is just a short walk so you do not have to wait for any shuttles.

if you decide to go with the official festival parking it is going to be 10 dollars for cars and 5 dollars for motorcycles. the most important thing to remember is that it is cash only so do not show up with just your phone or a card thinking you can tap to pay at the gate. there are a few different entrances you can use including airport way charter way and b street but airport way is usually where the biggest bottleneck happens. you can also try the entrance on martin luther king jr blvd to see if the line is shorter.

another solid move is the free rtd shuttle. they usually run a direct line from uei college over on claremont avenue which is across from weberstown mall. it runs every 30 minutes and drops you off right at the backstage entrance so you do not have to deal with the dusty parking lots at all. plus you sometimes get a discount on your admission if you show your bus pass but you should check the official site closer to 04/24 to be sure.

avoid parking at the winners sports emporium lot because they are super strict and usually have guards making sure people do not just park there and walk over. the neighborhood around the fairgrounds is pretty industrial too so street parking is basically non-existent and you really do not want to risk getting towed or having your car messed with on a random side street.

try to get there at least 30 minutes before the gates open at 10 am if you want a decent spot in the main lot. it can take 45 minutes just to get through the queue during peak hours in the middle of the day. also remember they have a clear bag policy now so make sure your bag is 12x6x12 or smaller and clear plastic or they will make you walk all the way back to your car to put it away. hide any valuables before you even get near the fairgrounds and make sure your windows are rolled up tight because those lots get really dusty.

hope this helps and enjoy the deep fried asparagus and the ice cream. it is worth the hassle once you actually get inside.