Flying to the Texas State Fair

Katamarino

Katamarino

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Katamarino
Looking at flying up from Houston for this, but 30 minutes with Skyvector and Airnav hasn't really found me any good fly-in options. Best I can come up with is land at Love Field and take the DART train.

Any locals have any better suggestions?
 
As far as proximity, Love's probably best. DART is an option, but I'd Uber (as suggested above). Despite its big airport activity, KDAL is very GA-friendly, and we have some of the best Controllers there are here, both Regional Approach and Love Field.

FBO suggestion is Business Jet. They act like you matter, even if you don't burn jet fuel. Easy in-out from 13L/31R; your post-landing taxi route is seconds long, and departing ain't much more.
 
I went for the opening day with a friend of mine, it was pretty enjoyable. Right on the south side of Love - was watching 737 after 737 shoot approaches right overhead.
 
SCCutler said:
FBO suggestion is Business Jet. They act like you matter, even if you don't burn jet fuel. Easy in-out from 13L/31R; your post-landing taxi route is seconds long, and departing ain't much more.
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Someone should use that as a marketing slogan for an FBO...

"We act like we care, even if you don't fly a jet!"

LOL! ;)
 
Katamarino said:
Looking at flying up from Houston for this, but 30 minutes with Skyvector and Airnav hasn't really found me any good fly-in options. Best I can come up with is land at Love Field and take the DART train.

Any locals have any better suggestions?
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Absolutely nothing wrong with Love... and I'm sure the FBO there can have a rental for you if you ask ahead. But you could take DART and dispense with the hassle.
 
Katamarino said:
Looking at flying up from Houston for this, but 30 minutes with Skyvector and Airnav hasn't really found me any good fly-in options. Best I can come up with is land at Love Field and take the DART train.

Any locals have any better suggestions?
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Suggestion: Buying a ticket to the OU/saxeT game gets you free admission into the fair AND you get to see a bunch of people in burnt orange crying. Win-win. ;)
 
I'm planning to fly up from Houston on Friday (as long as the cold front doesn't get ugly). Heading for RBD and Ambassador. But a buddy of mine is picking me up at the field, so I don't have to worry about ground transport. If I did, Love + DART is a good way to get *to* the fair, but depending on when you leave you might have a long wait for a return train. (BTDT in previous years.)

Be wary of Uber-ing; not sure if the fair qualifies, but Uber's app has an algorithm that starts jacking up prices when it senses big demand at a specific location. I think it typically kicks in when big events like sporting events, concerts, city festivals, etc. let out and all of a sudden several hundred or thousand folks are trying to call a ride.

You might make it to the fair for a reasonable price, but then you might get hosed when you try to leave.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/23/12017002/uber-surge-pricing-upfront-fare-app-update-announcement
 
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We are hoping to do the same flight from the coast on Sunday, and spend Sunday afternoon/evening at the fair. We have never been to the Texas State Fair!

Love Field or Dallas Executive look promising. We hope to spend the night somewhere nearby.

What's DART? I assume some sort of train?
 
Jim_R said:
I'm planning to fly up from Houston on Friday (as long as the cold front doesn't get ugly). Heading for RBD and Ambassador. But a buddy of mine is picking me up at the field, so I don't have to worry about ground transport. If I did, Love + DART is a good way to get *to* the fair, but depending on when you leave you might have a long wait for a return train. (BTDT in previous years.)

Be wary of Uber-ing; not sure if the fair qualifies, but Uber's app has an algorithm that starts jacking up prices when it senses big demand at a specific location. I think it typically kicks in when big events like sporting events, concerts, city festivals, etc. let out and all of a sudden several hundred or thousand folks are trying to call a ride.

You might make it to the fair for a reasonable price, but then you might get hosed when you try to leave.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/23/12017002/uber-surge-pricing-upfront-fare-app-update-announcement
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We used Uber for the Red Bull Air Races in Dallas two (?) years ago, and it was great.
 
Do you guys want to do a group deal Sunday afternoon? I might be able to do that.
 
Here's what Big Tex looked like today.

14543793_10210917430797983_967781134133187787_o.jpg
 
To go from Love Field to Fair Park on DART would involve at least two buses and a train, and take forever.

Just Uber or Cab it. Easy-peasy, and not far.
 
Katamarino said:
Looking at flying up from Houston for this, but 30 minutes with Skyvector and Airnav hasn't really found me any good fly-in options. Best I can come up with is land at Love Field and take the DART train.

Any locals have any better suggestions?
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DART is a very reasonable solution, it's one bus and one train. I used to take DART to work every day from downtown to Love. As a bonus, you can stop off at Deep Ellum for some really great local restaurants.

The green line train drops you off right at the fair and costs $10 for an all day pass or $5 for a 2 hour pass. You do have to take a bus from Love to the DART station (#524, the Love Link). If I remember correctly, they don't check for a pass leaving Love so you can get to the train station and buy one there or you can buy one using their phone app. You will need your pass going back to Love. If I were flying into Love and going to the fair, I would take DART.

Uber or Lyft are both suitable options too, but more expensive. Depending on traffic, it's a 20+ minute ride.

If you don't like Love, Dallas Exec is closer but you'll be stuck with only Uber or Lyft. It's 15 minute drive.

Either drive could triple if you get it at the wrong time.
 
bflynn said:
DART is a very reasonable solution, it's one bus and one train. I used to take DART to work every day from downtown to Love. As a bonus, you can stop off at Deep Ellum for some really great local restaurants.

The green line train drops you off right at the fair and costs $10 for an all day pass or $5 for a 2 hour pass. You do have to take a bus from Love to the DART station (#524, the Love Link). If I remember correctly, they don't check for a pass leaving Love so you can get to the train station and buy one there or you can buy one using their phone app. You will need your pass going back to Love. If I were flying into Love and going to the fair, I would take DART.

Uber or Lyft are both suitable options too, but more expensive. Depending on traffic, it's a 20+ minute ride.

If you don't like Love, Dallas Exec is closer but you'll be stuck with only Uber or Lyft. It's 15 minute drive.

Either drive could triple if you get it at the wrong time.
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The DART bus line does come by RBD...
 
RyanShort1 said:
The DART bus line does come by RBD...
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If you're talking about the 453 bus, it kinda does. You have to walk 3/4 of a mile out to Hampton Rd to get it. Then it does go to Hampton Station on the red line, which you can take downtown and transfer to the green line to take the fair. I'll handle the dedicated bus and a train, but a walk + bus + train + train is too much for me. Uber it is.

Should have mentioned before about the bus from Love - that is coming from the main terminal. If you're at an FBO, Uber is probably the best choice unless you can get a ride to the train.

If you have luggage, whether or not you can take the train will be dictated by if it goes by your hotel.
 
bflynn said:
If you're talking about the 453 bus, it kinda does. You have to walk 3/4 of a mile out to Hampton Rd to get it. Then it does go to Hampton Station on the red line, which you can take downtown and transfer to the green line to take the fair. I'll handle the dedicated bus and a train, but a walk + bus + train + train is too much for me. Uber it is.

Should have mentioned before about the bus from Love - that is coming from the main terminal. If you're at an FBO, Uber is probably the best choice unless you can get a ride to the train.

If you have luggage, whether or not you can take the train will be dictated by if it goes by your hotel.
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There are three options I see sitting here at Ambassador that are close to an hour. 453-Red is one that's longer, 021-060, 278-060, 278-111 are faster.
 
Flying in tomorrow to KDAL and Business Jet, then taking an Uber. Looking forward to it!
 
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