El Dorado County Fairgrounds /Placerville

Getting There

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Directions	From Highway 50, east or west, take Forni Road exit. Go north to Fair Lane and turn right--this road runs immediately alongside the freeway, so it's a quick turn immediately after the south(west)bound freeway exit ramp. The Fairgrounds will be on your left; the entrance is just past Denny's. NOTE: This entrance closes after about 6 PM. To get to the front entrance, return to Forni Rd. and turn right. Go to the next street and turn right. Main entrance is on your right. If they want to charge you for entering/parking, tell them you're with the dog agility event, which doesn't charge. Alternate directions to get around sacramento-area traffic mess and heavy traffic up 50 towards Placerville: From 99 (south of Elk Grove), take Grant Line Rd. all the way up until it intersects 50.
Distance	171 miles (via 680/80/50)
Driving time to, 5 AM	unknown; reportedly much faster than in evening.
Driving time to, 11 AM Friday	2 hrs 30 minutes
Driving time from, 5 PM Fri/Sun	3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic
Slow bits	Everywhere; this area is a popular weekend destination so lots of people will be arriving & leaving while you are.
Notes	FUN stuff: Look for the rabbits chasing the coyote, eastbound on 50, on your right about a mile after Shingle Rd (before Shingle Springs Drive). TRAFFIC NEWS: AM 1530, Sacramento

Site Description

Overview	A beautiful, quiet, grassy site with room for 3 rings, lots of camping & RV parking, and a hillside for spectators to sit on & watch.
Parking	Ample parking not too far from ringside; if you get there early Friday afternoon you might get one of the choice parking spots next to the ring.
Restrooms	Nice permanent building ringside. Has showers.
Dog romping	Several small grassy areas for potty; 1 large grassy area farther from the ring suitable for frisbee.
Shade/Shelter	Some trees near and around ring; most sites need you to bring shade. No rain shelter.
Camping	Several RV hookups not far from the ring, 1st come 1st served; dumping station available. Can set up tents on grass around the ring or not far from it. Costs $15/night for RV or tent whether you use the hookups or not.
Food	Nothing onsite, but there are fast food & Denny's within moderate walking distance out the Fair Lane entrance, as well as a supermarket, and another supermarket within walking distance out the opposite entrance. (But if you're buying enough for a big dinner, you might want to drive.)
Notes	They claim that weather in Placerville is unpredictable; can be wet or dry; quite hot or quite cold.