Planes surrounding a terminal MKE Airport in Milwaukee; credit Milwaukee CVB
Milwaukee Transportation
Airport
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is a midsize passenger airport with attractive shops and cafes. It features many flights to the Midwest Region and Canada. Downtown Milwaukee is only a short ride north of MKE Airport. MKE Airport Terminal Map
Taxis: Yellow Cabs and American United Taxis are just outside the baggage claim area. Car Rentals: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, and National provide service. Follow signage exiting the airport to Downtown Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Intermodal Station hosts Amtrak, Greyhound, and taxis; (C) Soul Of America
Train Station
Milwaukee Intermodal Station at 433 West St. Paul Avenue has an attractive waiting area, WiFi, the All Aboard Cafe, bike racks, and lockers-for-rent, while hosting Amtrak, Greyhound, Megabus, Jefferson Express Bus, Uber, Lyft & taxi services.
Amtrak routes hosted in Milwaukee are:
Amtrak Hiawatha: Milwaukee-Chicago (7 daily roundtrips)
Amtrak Borealis: St. Paul/Minneapolis-Milwaukee-Chicago (2 daily roundtrips)
Amtrak Empire Builder: Seattle-Minneapolis-Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago (2 daily roundtrips)
Amtrak Chicago-Milwaukee corridor is being upgraded to 90 mph in some places with more daily roundtrips planned in 2026.
Since Amtrak Chicago-Springfield-St. Louis and Amtrak Chicago-Hammond/Gary-Kalamazoo-Ann Arbor-Detroit routes are being upgraded to 110 mph and more daily roundtrips, perhaps the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor will follow suit later this decade. For context about the national importance of this project, see Interstate High Speed Rail.
Ride free on The Hop in Downtown Milwaukee; credit Michael Barera/Wiki Commons
Transit
Milwaukee doesn’t have Rapid Transit at this time. Instead, it has a modern Streetcar, The Hop operating downtown.
The Hop Streetcar
Get a relaxing perspective of downtown Milwaukee, Amtrak Station, the lakefront, and the historic Third Ward in a several-mile loop route. The best place to catch a ride on The Hop Streetcar is at the Riverwalk. It’s FREE to ride.
WEBSITE: https://thehopmke.com/
Tours
City Heritage Tours
Tour the soulful side of Milwaukee with Patricia Chisom; her full-service experienced travel guide company specializes in African American points of interest; she provides customized tours for family reunions, corporate groups, small and private groups; lake cruises, trolley tours, and step-on guide service available
PHONE: 414-445-8757
Edelweiss cruise ships on Milwaukee River; credit Milwaukee CVB
Cruiseport
Riverwalk Boat Tours
The Brew City Queen holds 4 passengers for its lazy route up and down the Milwaukee River; enjoy mixed drinks and brewery tours along the way; operates from May to October.
ADDRESS: 1137 North Old World Third Street MAP
PHONE: 414-283-9999
Lake Express
An affordable, high-speed car ferry that transports you across Lake Michigan between Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan; service runs from May to December.
ADDRESS: 2330 South Lincoln Memorial Drive MAP
PHONE: 800-554-1448
Freeways
Milwaukee Freeway Network completed the lengthy I-94/I-43 Interchange project near downtown to provide some relief to commuters, particularly south of MKE Airport and Chicago.