Parking

Parking Map

Parking

Parking at the 2011 Great Midwest Balloon Fest is almost all on pavement and there’s lots of it, but traffic can be congested. Be sure to leave plenty of time and COME EARLY!

Click here to view area map.

The information listed below will help make your travel to and from the event enjoyable and as hassle-free as possible. There are almost 4000 parking spaces at the Great Mall of the Great Plains where the festival site is located. Directions to get to the mall are below or you can look it up on Google Maps. We’re right off Interstate 35 at Exit 215 (151st street). There are three entrances into Mall parking and it’s all FREE.

  • From the NORTH Use K-7 South bound to 151st Street
  • From the SOUTH Use K-7(169 HWY) North to 151 Street
  • From the NORTH EAST Use I-35 South bound to exit 215 (151st Street)
  • From the SOUTH WEST Use I-35 North bound to exit 215 (151st Street)
  • From the EAST Use 151st Street to K-7, I-35

There is handicapped parking available at the Great Mall near the entrance to the site and throughout the parking area; also at Olathe Medical Center near the shuttles and at ODAC and the schools.

Shuttle Service

SHUTTLES WILL RUN EVERY 15 MINUTES and be available throughout the Festival Weekend. On Saturday there will be no shuttles available before noon. There will be no shuttles running on Sunday. FREE PARK AND RIDE shuttle service is available from the following locations (See Map for locations):

  • Olathe Medical Center, across 151st street to the south of the Mall. Park your car in Doctors Building Lots 1 or 2; there is additional parking in the back as directed. Shuttles will be available to take you across the street to the site.
  • ODAC (Olathe District Activity Center), I-35 and Exit 213 (Lone Elm). 1 mile south of the mall on 159th street, east of K-7 (169 HWY), West of Lone Elm Road. Shuttles will be available. This site is only a little over a mile from the Festival site.
  • Olathe South High School and Trail Ridge Junior High - 1640 East 151st Street. This site is only a little over a mile east of the Festival site.