Getting Around, Milwaukee Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin - WI, USA)
Milwaukee is a transportation hub of sorts for Wisconsin and the city has the benefit of a Lake Michigan ferry travel service, connecting it to
Michigan State. The busiest route is between Milwaukee and
Chicago, with frequent bus transport and shuttle travel along Interstate I-94, connecting with both the
Chicago O'Hare and
Midway airports.
Amtrak rail transport also runs seven services a day, which travel to and from the city in each direction. Connections from Milwaukee to
Madison, Manitowoc, Green Bay and the rest of Wisconsin are frequent and heavily used.
General Mitchell Airport (MKE) / Arriving by Air
The nearby General Mitchell Airport is the principal air transport hub for the city, but with Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) within two hours' drive, this airport has not developed into a major international port. Residents find many more flight options from O'Hare and there are regular shuttles between the two. The General Mitchell Airport has more than 250 departures and arrivals daily, operated by 15 airlines to 90 cities, mostly in the
US.
The most common form of ground transport into Milwaukee city center is by the regularly departing shuttle service. However, long-haul buses also travel from the airport to selected destinations. Taxi and limo services are well supplied from the airport taxi counter within the terminal and provide a convenient way to travel into the downtown district.
General Mitchell Airport (MKE) Guide
Car Rental
Car hire is a good idea when visiting, as Milwaukee is quite manageable to those unfamiliar with it and the city does not have an intimidating large network of highways. The local public transport is sufficient, but not comprehensive. All major car rental transport companies are represented at various depots throughout the city, as well as at the Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport. There are clear routes that travel out of the city, with Interstate I-94 heading south to
Illinois and Interstate I-45 north to Green Bay, and these routes travel southwest and west respectively, into the rest of Wisconsin State.
Boats and Ferries
The Port of Milwaukee is the departure point for a car ferry service that reaches destinations on Michigan's lakeshore. Lake Michigan car ferry services connect the city with Muskegon on the Michigan shore, with several daily sailings.
Buses and Coaches
Greyhound buses travel to and from the terminal at 606 North 7th Street, which is conveniently located in central Milwaukee. Services depart for numerous short and long distance destinations daily, with almost hourly buses to Chicago and
Minneapolis. The Milwaukee County Transit system provides frequent and efficient bus transport around the city, offering 70 local, expressway, freeway flyer and park-and-ride bus routes.
Trains
Amtrak offers two main rail transport services - the Empire Builder, which travels from Chicago to
Seattle daily and stops in Milwaukee, and the Hiawatha service, which provides seven return journeys a day between Chicago and Milwaukee, terminating at the airport. The Empire service traverses through Illinois, Wisconsin,
Minnesota,
North Dakota,
Montana, Idaho,
Washington and
Oregon. There are also local train services which travel between the city and principal towns in Wisconsin, as well as a commuter service on local lines. Of note, the Amtrak train station is located at 433 West Saint Paul Avenue.
Taxis
Milwaukee is well serviced by taxis and these can be found cruising the downtown area and are easily flagged down, providing a convenient way to travel around the city. There are also many designated taxi waiting areas outside shopping malls, commuter stations and key centers in Milwaukee. Taxis can also be found in abundance at General Mitchell Airport.
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