Events & Places
Ohio State Fair Towing at the Ohio Expo Center
Overheated in a fair lot or locked out after a long August day? We help cars, pickups, trailers and RVs at the Expo Center grounds.
Call (740) 812-9489
Ohio State Fair towing and roadside help at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds, 717 E. 17th Ave., is what this page is about. The fair has called these grounds home since 1886 and runs for 12 days each summer, spanning late July into early August; in 2026 it ran July 29 through August 9. The same property hosts shows, concerts and competitions the rest of the year, with parking for more than 12,000 vehicles. Heat, long days and trailers make it a tough place for tired cars. Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc answers (740) 812-9489 around the clock, and most metro calls are reached in 20–40 minutes, a figure we always give as an estimate. We are independent and have no tie to the fair, the Expo Center or its parking operator.
Call (740) 812-9489 · Request a tow now (SOS) · Get an online quote
Getting in and out of the fairgrounds
The grounds sit just east of I-71 at Exit 111, the 17th Avenue exit, north of downtown. Parking is run by SP+. On normal event days the lot price is $7, while fair parking in the main lots north of the Cardinal Gate cost $10 per car in 2026, and fair lots stopped admitting vehicles at 5 p.m.
Fairgoers can skip the lots entirely: free park-and-ride shuttles ran from Columbus State Community College at Washington Avenue and Spring Street, and on two fair Saturdays from the south side of St. John Arena, dropping riders at the OHIO Gate on 11th Avenue. COTA lines 8 and 22 also stop on 11th Avenue near that gate.
- Tell dispatch the lot and the closest gate (Cardinal Gate, OHIO Gate or a numbered gate)
- Say which building you parked near, such as the Celeste Center or Bricker Building
- Mention if a trailer is attached
Summer heat and long lot days
Fair days are hot, and cars sit on open asphalt for hours before a slow crawl back to the interstate. That combination catches overheating engines, tired batteries and underinflated tires. A jump start comes with a battery test and a printed report, a spare can go on through tire changes, and our lockout service handles keys left on the seat. Each of those is a flat $75 plus en-route at $4 per mile from our yard.
If the engine has overheated, shut it off and let it cool rather than forcing it onto I-71. When a car needs to be moved, a tow costs $4 a mile en-route plus a $125 hook-up and $7 per loaded mile. Weekend and after-hours surcharges are on the rate card. EVs are always carried with all four wheels up.
Trailers, RVs and livestock rigs
The fair and many expo shows draw pickups hauling horse and livestock trailers, campers, and vendors' box trucks. Our own trucks handle light-duty and medium-duty towing, with a $100 large-vehicle surcharge. For big rigs, motorhomes and buses beyond our in-house range, we arrange heavy towing through a heavy-duty partner, and the dispatcher will tell you what to expect before anyone rolls.
A truck stuck in soft ground at the edge of a grass area may need a winch-out, billed at $150 per hour. Tell dispatch the vehicle type, whether a trailer is still hitched and if animals are aboard, so we send the right equipment.
If a tow vehicle quits but the trailer is fine, it can sometimes be unhitched and left in place with permission while the truck goes to a shop. Check that plan with the grounds' parking staff first, since lots may need to be cleared after an event.
Ohio State Fair / Expo: common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer Ohio State Fair towing during the fair's evening rush?
Yes, dispatch runs 24/7 through all 12 days of the fair. Evening is when most people leave at once, so the grounds' exits and the I-71 ramps at 17th Avenue get busy. Give us your lot, nearest gate and a nearby building, and we will give you an honest estimate. A tow is en-route at $4 a mile, then a $125 hook-up and $7 per loaded mile.
Can you tow my camper or livestock trailer from the fairgrounds?
Medium-duty trucks and trailers can be handled by our own equipment, with a $100 large-vehicle surcharge. Larger motorhomes and heavy combinations are coordinated through our heavy-duty partner. Tell the dispatcher the vehicle's size, what it is carrying and whether it is still hitched, so the right truck is sent the first time.
My car overheated in a fair parking lot. What should I do?
Turn the engine off, open the hood only once it has cooled, and do not add coolant to a hot radiator. Stay out of traffic lanes and call us. If the car cannot be driven safely, we tow it to your home or a shop. Getting a car checked is usually cheaper than a damaged engine from pushing it onto I-71.
Where is the Ohio Expo Center and how do you reach it?
It is at 717 E. 17th Ave. in Columbus, next to I-71 at Exit 111. Our trucks come off the interstate there, the same way most visitors do. Because the grounds are so large, the gate you entered through and a nearby building name are the fastest way for our driver to find you.
Is there a cheaper option than a tow if my battery dies at the fair?
Usually. A jump start costs a flat $75 plus en-route at $4 per mile from our yard, and it includes a battery test with a printed report. If the battery fails, we can replace it right in the lot. Weekend calls add $50 and calls between 10 PM and 6 AM add $150, as listed on our rate card.
Are you the official towing company for the Ohio State Fair?
No. We have no contract or partnership with the fair, the Expo Center or SP+, and we do not keep trucks on the grounds. We are an independent company that responds when a visitor calls for help with their own vehicle. For lost-and-found or parking questions, contact the fair or the venue directly.
Related help
- Medium-Duty Towing
- Heavy-Duty Towing
- Jump Starts
- Tire Changes
- Lockout Service
- Flatbed Towing
- Rate card
- All service areas
- Ohio State Campus
- Festival Towing
- Convention Center
- ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
- All events & places
Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc is an independent towing company and is not affiliated with the Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds, the Ohio Expositions Commission or its parking operator.
Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc (dba Columbus Roadside Towing).
Corporate office (private, no walk-ins): 3879 Regatta Ct, Lewis Center, OH 43035
Tow yard & impound lot: 1620 Harrisburg Pike, Columbus, OH 43223
(740) 812-9489 · chris@columbusroadsidetowing.com