It starts the same way most seasons. The Saturday morning of the LA County Fair's first big weekend, or the Thursday before NHRA eliminations Sunday, and Fairplex Drive turns into the longest parking lot in the Inland Valley — cars stacked past the I-10 on-ramp, every lane feeding into the same three gates, and your whole group still needs to find each other once they're actually inside the grounds. Fairplex (1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768) is a 543-acre campus that hosts more than 500 events annually, and it is one of the few Southern California venues where the logistics question — where does the bus drop, which gate takes it, where does it stage — genuinely changes your plan before you even leave Ontario.
On a full-house day, parking for 30,000 vehicles sounds like enough until 40,000 NHRA fans all exit I-10 at Fairplex Drive within the same two-hour window.
The guide below is built on Fairplex's own published policies, NHRA's official event information, and the specific gate layout that every organizer needs to know before the bus pulls in. One quick form on Partybusontario.net or a call to 909-966-8200 covers the rest — but the logistics below are what make or break the day.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to Fairplex?
The parking math makes the case before anything else. During the LA County Fair, general parking runs $26 per vehicle at the gate — so a group of 40 arriving in 10 cars spends $260 on parking alone before anyone sets foot on the midway. Split a 40-passenger charter bus across that same group, and parking stops being a line item entirely.
One vehicle, one confirmed drop at Gate 17, one agreed pickup time when the fair closes. On major event days, that single logistical simplification pays for itself.
For NHRA race weekends, the argument is even cleaner. Spectator gates open at 7:30 AM on race days — which means fan groups from Ontario trying to make morning qualifying rounds need to be moving before most people have poured their first coffee. A Fairplex party bus or charter bus rental coordinates the whole morning: one pickup time in Ontario, one arrival at Gate 17 when the gates open, no one circling a remote lot trying to find the rest of the group.
Call 909-966-8200 any time to get a quote for your event date, or use the online tool on Partybusontario.net for pricing in about a minute.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Fairplex
Fairplex's own event guidance is specific on this: Gate 17 is the designated passenger drop-off point — rideshare vehicles, family drop-offs, and private passenger vehicles all use Gate 17 exclusively, with no drop-offs permitted at any other entry gate. Gate 17 sits at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and Fairplex Drive, directly accessible from I-10 westbound via the Fairplex Drive exit. Turn north on Fairplex Drive off the freeway, and Gate 17 is right at the McKinley Avenue intersection — ADA accessible parking and designated drop-off signage are inside the gate from that direction.
For charter bus and large-vehicle staging after the passenger drop, the exact bus parking area shifts by event type and scale. A Saturday afternoon at the County Fair uses the campus differently than an NHRA Finals Thursday, and Fairplex coordinates large-vehicle flow differently for each. When you request a trip through Partybusontario.net's network, the bus staging details for your specific event can be worked out with your transportation provider ahead of time — no guessing at a closed gate when you arrive.
For groups coming from Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, or anywhere along the 210 corridor, Gate 15 off Arrow Highway handles the north-side approach and often runs less backed-up than Gate 17 on peak event Saturdays. Gate 3 off McKinley Avenue handles valet parking only. All general passenger drop-offs go to Gate 17.
Gate 17 at McKinley Avenue and Fairplex Drive is the only gate that accepts passenger drop-offs — confirmed in Fairplex's own event guidance. No other gate handles private vehicle or rideshare passenger arrivals. For groups from Ontario, Gate 17 is also the most direct approach off I-10 westbound via the Fairplex Drive exit.
Fairplex Parking: Gates, Costs, and What to Know Before You Arrive
With parking for 30,000 vehicles spread across a 543-acre campus, Fairplex has more raw parking capacity than most SoCal venues. The challenge is that all three main entry gates run simultaneously on peak event days, and every one of those 30,000 spots gets contested. The three gates serve different approaches: Gate 17 off Fairplex Drive is the primary entry for groups from I-10 and handles all passenger drop-offs and ADA accessible parking.
Gate 15, accessible from Arrow Highway on the north side, is the right approach for groups coming from the 210. Gate 3 off McKinley Avenue handles valet only.
During the LA County Fair, parking is cashless and event-day pricing reflects the demand. The 2026 fair ran $22.50 per vehicle if pre-purchased online and $26 at the gate — check the official LA County Fair site for current pricing and season pass options before the next May run. Season passes were available for $86.50 online for the full fair run in 2026.
The important risk on a peak weekend: lots have been known to fill before the close of business on busy Saturdays. Late arrivals report getting turned away from preferred lots to more distant overflow options on some peak May days.
The LA County Public Works Fairplex Park & Ride at 1810 Gillette Road in Pomona offers 553 first-come, first-served spaces as an alternative. From I-10, exit Fairplex Drive and turn right onto Gillette Road. The lot is served by Foothill Transit routes 197 and 699, plus OCTA route 757.
There is no reservation system and overnight parking is prohibited.
Getting to Fairplex: Every Option Compared
Fairplex is more transit-accessible than it used to be — the Metro A Line's La Verne/Fairplex station opened in September 2025 on Arrow Highway, one block north of the campus — but for a group of 20 or more with gear, the question is always whether everyone ends up together at the right time. Here is an honest comparison.
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Drop-off point | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across the group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival time | Gate 17, confirmed at booking | 15–56 |
| Metro A Line to La Verne/Fairplex | $2/person each way | Only if everyone boards the same train | One block north on Arrow Highway — short walk to campus | Individuals and small groups without gear |
| Foothill Transit (routes 197, 699) | Per-fare, each way | Only if boarding together | White Ave near Gate 17 | 1–4, no group coordination |
| Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) | Per car each way, surge after big events | No — multiple ETAs, multiple gate arrivals | Gate 17 only | 1–4 per car |
| Everyone drives and parks | $22.50–$26 per car + gas per car | No — lots assign separately, fill at different rates | Varies by lot | 1–4 per car |
For a pair or small group without chairs, strollers, or gear, the A Line is a real option now — $2 each way from downtown LA or the western San Gabriel Valley, direct to a station one block from the grounds, with trains every 8 minutes during peak hours. For a group of 25 coordinating from the Ontario area with folding chairs and a stroller, or a 40-person fan group that needs to hit the dragstrip as a unit, the coordination cost of multiple transit connections tips cleanly toward one bus. That is the group this guide is written for.
What Size Bus Does Your Fairplex Group Need?
Headcount and gear are the two deciding variables. A 30-person NHRA fan group doing a day trip packs lighter than a 45-person County Fair family reunion with strollers and chairs. Partybusontario.net connects groups to a large network of bus companies serving Ontario and Pomona — the full vehicle lineup covers every size. Here is how the options break down for a Fairplex run.
| Vehicle | Seats | Gear capacity | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15–35 passenger minibus | Up to 35 | Overhead bins, some underfloor storage | NHRA day trips; Truck Show groups; mid-size Fair outings | Reclining seats, climate control, PA system |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | 15–50 | Onboard, lighter loads | Celebration-focused Fair groups; birthday outings; club runs | LED lighting, sound system, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Deep undercarriage bays — strollers, folding chairs, coolers | Large family reunions at the Fair; multi-day NHRA groups; corporate outings | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead bins, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom |
The 40–56 passenger charter bus earns its place on big Fair days specifically because of the undercarriage bays — strollers, folding chairs, and packed day bags ride below while the group rides in climate-controlled comfort above. For NHRA groups doing a day trip who are traveling light, a 15–35 passenger minibus keeps the group together with a more maneuverable footprint on a tight Fairplex Drive approach. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — note the need in your quote request.
Getting to Fairplex from Ontario: I-10 West and Route 71
From Ontario, Fairplex is approximately 6 miles — about 14 minutes in off-peak traffic. The direct shot is I-10 westbound to the Fairplex Drive exit, turn left (north) on Fairplex Drive, and Gate 17 is right at the McKinley Avenue intersection. For groups departing from central Ontario or downtown Ontario near the Convention Center, that is the cleanest approach: straight west on the 10, one exit, and the gate is in front of you.
For groups starting further south in Ontario near Ontario Mills or the Chino Hills side, Route 71 northbound connects into the Pomona grid and brings you in via the McKinley corridor from the east — a natural approach to Gate 17 from that angle without backtracking to I-10.
Those 14 minutes off-peak look very different on a peak May Fair Saturday or NHRA Finals Sunday. Fairplex Drive can back up past the I-10 on-ramp when all three main parking gates are processing simultaneously, and the Fairplex Drive exit itself has been known to add 20–30 minutes of freeway-ramp crawl in either direction on the biggest days. On a bus, those minutes are spent riding rather than white-knuckling the steering wheel.
The bus gets to the gate and the group walks in while the individual cars are still circling for a lot that isn't full.
For groups flying into the area first, Ontario International Airport (ONT) sits about 7 miles southeast of Fairplex — a direct, single-leg pickup that gets an arriving group straight to the venue or to a hotel block first, no rideshare juggling required.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Rentals for NHRA Race Weekends at Fairplex
The In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip inside the Fairplex campus has hosted NHRA's season-opening event since 1961 — making it one of the longest-running motorsports venues in the country. Two events anchor the 2026 racing calendar at Pomona: the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, running April 9–12, 2026 (the traditional season opener), and the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals running November 12–15, 2026 (the championship closer). With a spectator capacity of 40,000, both events are massive draws — and spectator gates open at 7:30 AM on race days, per NHRA's official event guide, which means Ontario groups trying to catch morning qualifying need an early departure plan.
A 40,000-seat motorsports event running Thursday through Sunday fills Fairplex Drive by mid-morning on elimination days. The pattern NHRA regulars report is consistent: easy parking access on Thursday, progressively tighter Friday and Saturday, and genuinely gridlocked approaches on Sunday finals. For a group of first-time Finals visitors or a multi-day race group coming up from Ontario, a Fairplex charter bus rental found through Partybusontario.net means the group arrives together and nobody spends Sunday afternoon navigating the post-finals exit on their own.
Check the NHRA Finals official event page and the Winternationals event page for current entry information, gate policies, and event guides before your race weekend.
Spectator gates at the Pomona Dragstrip open at 7:30 AM on race days. A charter bus picking up a 35-person group in Ontario at 6:30 AM and dropping them at Gate 17 when the gates open is the straightforward answer — one vehicle, one arrival, and no parking to sort out across four days of racing. For Ontario sporting event group transportation, NHRA race weekends are among the most-requested destinations on the calendar.
Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to the LA County Fair at Fairplex
The LA County Fair runs every May across the Fairplex grounds — one of the largest county fairs in the United States by attendance. The 2026 fair ran May 7–31; the 2027 edition is scheduled for May 6–31, 2027. It is the single event that most reliably turns Fairplex Drive into a backup stretching to the 10 interchange, and the one where the parking math most visibly tips toward a bus.
At $26 per car at the gate, a group of 40 in 10 cars is spending $260 on parking before anyone sees the midway — and that assumes they all find spaces at the same time in the same lot, which does not always happen on a peak May Saturday.
One 40-passenger charter bus collapses that math: one vehicle, one drop at Gate 17, one flat rate across the group, no individual lot assignments. For a private group event — a family reunion, a community organization outing, a company appreciation day at the Fair — a bus also solves the coordination problem that turns 40 separate RSVPs into 40 people actually arriving at the same time. Fair-season weekends in mid-to-late May are among the highest-demand periods for bus rentals in the Ontario-Pomona corridor, so booking a few weeks out is worth it.
Call 909-966-8200 to check availability for your May date.
Grand National Truck Show at Fairplex: Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental
The Grand National Truck Show at Fairplex runs September 26–27, 2026 — both days from 10 AM to 6 PM inside the Fairplex exhibit buildings. The 4th annual edition of this show welcomes trucks, vans, and SUVs from 1900 to current, with judged indoor classes, a $12,500 "World's Most Beautiful Truck" competition, and an outdoor Grand National Truck-In section for cruising and club gatherings. Adult admission is $25 per day.
It is a more concentrated, enthusiast-focused event than the County Fair, but it draws groups of truck club members and automotive hobbyists who often coordinate as a group.
One thing every first-timer should know: there is no tram service on the Fairplex grounds during the Truck Show, and personal golf carts are not permitted. The entire campus is on foot, which means the distance from a remote parking lot to the exhibit buildings is longer than it looks on the map. A Gate 17 drop from a private bus puts your group closer to the main entrance than any general lot assignment — and picks everyone up at the same spot when the show ends at 6 PM, so nobody is wandering a 543-acre campus at dusk trying to remember where the car is parked.
The Metro A Line, the Park and Ride, and When Transit Actually Helps
The La Verne/Fairplex Metro A Line station, which opened September 19, 2025, sits one block north of the Fairplex campus — at Arrow Highway near E Street, with access from both White Avenue and E Street. The A Line reaches downtown Los Angeles in roughly 62 minutes and Pasadena in about 32, with service running every 8 minutes at peak hours. For individuals and small groups coming from the western San Gabriel Valley or downtown LA, this is a legitimate option that did not exist before 2025.
The station includes 300 parking spaces and EV charging.
For a group of 25 people coordinating pickups from across Ontario and the eastern Inland Empire, getting everyone onto the same A Line train — and through any required connections — is a heavier logistical lift than a single bus departure. The Fairplex Park & Ride at 1810 Gillette Road handles 553 first-come spaces and connects via Foothill Transit, but it adds a transfer that a direct bus drop at Gate 17 skips entirely. Transit is the smart call for individual visitors; a private bus is the smart call when the goal is the whole group arriving at the same gate at the same time.
Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental Prices for Fairplex Events
Pricing through Partybusontario.net's network of bus companies serving Ontario and Pomona varies by vehicle size, date, total hours, and pickup location. To give you a planning range: a 15–35 passenger minibus runs approximately $200–$275 per hour on weekends, with day-rate options around $1,100–$2,150. A 40–56 passenger charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour on weekends, with day rates in the $1,350–$2,850 range — useful for NHRA groups doing a full race-day trip or Fair groups planning an all-day outing.
A 25-passenger party bus runs approximately $275–$375 per hour on weekends for celebration-focused County Fair groups.
These are planning ranges — the actual quote for your specific date, headcount, and Ontario-area pickup is what matters, and Partybusontario.net gets it in front of you in about a minute online or over the phone at 909-966-8200, no account required. The Ontario party bus prices page has full rate breakdowns by vehicle. Once the cost splits across a group, the per-person number routinely lands below what the same group would have spent on parking plus separate gas runs — and without anyone counting heads to figure out who still needs a ride.
Tips for Your Fairplex Visit
- Gate 17 is the only passenger drop-off gate. Fairplex's own event guidance confirms this: all rideshare and private vehicle passenger drops use Gate 17 at McKinley Avenue and Fairplex Drive. No other gate accepts drop-offs. Make sure your group knows to look for Gate 17 signage coming off I-10 at Fairplex Drive.
- Pre-purchase LA County Fair parking. $22.50 online versus $26 at the gate — the savings add up for a group arriving in multiple cars, and pre-purchased lots are less likely to be full when you arrive. Check the official LA County Fair parking page for current pricing before the May run each year.
- NHRA spectator gates open at 7:30 AM on race days. Both the Winternationals (April) and the Finals (November) use this schedule. Groups wanting to catch morning qualifying from Ontario need to plan accordingly — a 7:30 AM gate opening means a 6:30 AM departure from most Ontario-area pickup locations.
- Grand National Truck Show: no trams, no golf carts. The entire show is a walking event across the Fairplex campus. A Gate 17 drop-off shortens the walk to the exhibit buildings compared to any remote general parking lot.
- Fairplex Drive backs up on peak event days. On busy Fair Saturdays and NHRA Finals Sunday, the Fairplex Drive exit from I-10 can stack up onto the freeway itself. Build 20–30 minutes of extra cushion on major event dates, or let the bus handle the timing.
- Save the Fairplex main number. (909) 623-3111 is the main Fairplex contact — useful if logistics questions come up on-site or if any part of your group gets separated inside the 543-acre campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus drop off at Fairplex?
Gate 17 — at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and Fairplex Drive — is the designated passenger drop-off point per Fairplex's own event guidance. No other gate accepts private vehicle or rideshare passenger drops. For groups coming from Ontario via I-10 westbound, Gate 17 is directly accessible from the Fairplex Drive exit.
Large-vehicle staging after the passenger drop varies by event type and scale, and the specific bus parking plan is worth confirming with your transportation provider ahead of your trip.
Where does the bus park while my group is inside Fairplex?
Fairplex has parking for 30,000 vehicles across its 543-acre campus, and large-vehicle staging areas are assigned based on the specific event and how the campus is configured that day. A major NHRA Finals with 40,000 spectators uses a different vehicle flow than a weekend trade show. When you arrange your trip through Partybusontario.net's network, the bus staging plan for your specific event date is something you can confirm with your provider ahead of time — so there's less uncertainty at the gate about where the bus waits or how long it can stage.
How much does parking cost at Fairplex for the LA County Fair?
During the LA County Fair, general parking runs $22.50 per vehicle if pre-purchased online and $26 per vehicle at the gate — cashless only. A season pass was available for $86.50 online for the full fair run in 2026. Check the official LA County Fair site for current pricing before the next fair's May run, as rates are set each year.
How far is Ontario from Fairplex, and what's the route?
Approximately 6 miles by the most direct route: I-10 westbound from Ontario to the Fairplex Drive exit, then north to Gate 17 at McKinley Avenue — about 14 minutes in off-peak traffic. From southern Ontario or near Ontario Mills, Route 71 northbound into the Pomona street grid can also feed into the Gate 17 approach via McKinley Avenue. On peak Fair Saturdays and NHRA Finals Sunday, add 20–30 minutes of cushion for Fairplex Drive congestion.
When do NHRA spectator gates open at the Pomona Dragstrip?
Spectator gates open at 7:30 AM on race days for both the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals (April) and the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals (November). The official NHRA Finals event page and Winternationals event page publish full event guides with gate hours and maps for each year's events.
Is the Metro A Line a practical option for Fairplex?
It is now — the La Verne/Fairplex A Line station opened September 2025, one block north of the Fairplex campus on Arrow Highway near E Street, with service every 8 minutes at peak hours and fares at $2 each way. For individuals and small groups coming from downtown LA or the western San Gabriel Valley with no large gear, it is a solid option. For a group of 25 people coordinating from across Ontario with folding chairs and strollers, the transit connection adds transfers and timing coordination that a single bus drop at Gate 17 solves in one step.
See the station guide for current service details.
How far in advance should I book a Fairplex party bus or charter bus rental?
As early as your date is confirmed. Peak LA County Fair weekends in May, NHRA Winternationals in April, and NHRA Finals in November all compete with other regional events for bus availability in the Ontario-Pomona corridor. For major event weekends, four to six weeks out gives the best vehicle selection and scheduling flexibility.
The closer you get to a peak date, the fewer options remain. Call 909-966-8200 to check what's available for your specific date.
How do I get a Fairplex bus quote?
Call 909-966-8200 any time — a support team is available daily to build a quote around your group size, event date, and Ontario-area pickup location. Or use the online quote tool on Partybusontario.net to compare vehicles and pricing in about a minute, no account required.
Book Your Fairplex Bus Today
Whether it is a 35-person NHRA fan group headed to the Finals in November, a 40-person family reunion at the May County Fair, or a truck club group for the Grand National Truck Show in September, the Fairplex logistics work the same way: one bus, one drop at Gate 17, one flat rate split across the group, and no one navigating a 543-acre campus parking situation alone. Partybusontario.net makes it fast to compare options from a large network of bus companies serving Ontario and Pomona — use the online quote tool for pricing in about a minute, or call 909-966-8200 any time.
Planning other stops on the same trip? The Toyota Arena guide and the Ontario Convention Center guide cover drop-off and parking details for those venues, and the Pomona party bus rental page covers the broader Pomona transportation picture for groups making multiple stops.
