MAKING YOUR WAY TO THE FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, AND WHERE TO PARK ONCE YOU’VE REACHED PLANT CITY

Embarking on the journey to Plant City and through town for the Florida Strawberry Festival can be a daunting task throughout those 11 days, for both new visitors and experienced festival-goers alike. But no worries, we at the Plant City Observer got you covered.

When you sit down with your friends and family and begin planning your exciting day at the Florida Strawberry Festival, you probably think about that day’s headline entertainment or what fried food you want to eat or which animal you want to see run, jump and dress up for a costume contest. But what may get overlooked is all of the logistics that go into getting to Plant City and reaching the festival’s front gate once you actually make it into town.

Each year over 500,000 visitors flock to the winter strawberry capital of the world for Plant City’s annual 11-day festival, and a slough of cars and traffic predictable follow.

Lucky for you, the festival and the city have thousands of cheerful and willing volunteers to help festival-goers get through town and to a suitable parking place as quickly and easily as possible.

There is a number of options available for parking on the festival grounds, with Blue, Grey and Red Parking Lots located on Ritter Street and off of Highway 92 or Highway 574. If you want to park in these spots, the cost will run you $5 for cars, pickup trucks and vans under 20 feet, a pretty reasonable price for an event of this size. If you’re coming from out of town by way of your recreational vehicle, parking for vehicles between 20 and 39 feet will cost $10 and anything over 40 feet will cost $15.

Getting There

If you’re coming from Tampa or somewhere else east of Plant City, Interstate 4 may be the most direct route, but it’s important to remember that I-4 will likely deal with a signifiant amount of traffic dueo everyone else that wants to come as well! Make sure to check trafficeports before you head this way, as FL-574 may be a more convenient route that would lead you directly to the south side of the festival.

Additionally, for inquiries about reserving a space in the Seminole Lake RV Lot, located immediately west of the Festival grounds, please call the Festival office at 813-752-9194 ext. 233.

If you choose one of the Festival’s many available lots, don’t fear a long walk to the front gate. T Mobile trams will be running daily from all three Red, Grey and Blue parking lots to entry gates 10 and 14.

Along with parking options at the actual Festival grounds, there are also plenty of spots that will be made available by residents or business owners around town. These options offer visitors an alternative to the bustling lots on the grounds while also giving individuals an opportunity to make some extra cash that often makes its way right back into the community through charity work and other acts of service. Not only are these parking spaces legitimate, they’re actually encouraged by the festival themselves. But before you choose to throw your car in park and head to the front gate, be sure that your spot is clearly designated as festival parking.

But no matter where you end up parking, be safe. Make a note of your exact location, roll up your windows, lock your doors and take all proper precautions to protect and valuable and other belongings that you have in your car to ensure that you don’t end up in our weekly list of police reports.

If you’re coming from the south, you could take Highway 60. Once in Plant City via Highway 60, you could either take FL-39 north to Alexander Street or US-92 or take it up to Turkey Creek Road before hanging a left at US 92.

If you’re coming from the north, your best option wold likely be to take US92 all the way to the festival grounds.