How To Travel To Summerfest Without A Car
9 options for getting to the Big Gig.
Summerfest 2021. Photo taken September 16, 2021 by Mariiana Tzotcheva.
Summerfest returns this week, with the first show Thursday, June 23. It’s also the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that the festival has returned to a summer schedule.
For festival goers wanting to avoid the hassle of driving to the festival, here are some other ways to get there.
The Park-and-Ride Shuttle System
Although the Milwaukee County Transit System canceled its Summerfest shuttles this year due to a shortage of bus drivers, Summerfest is offering its own shuttle service.
Service will begin running at 5 p.m. on all nine days of the festival, running from June 23-25, June 30-July 2 and July 7-9. Roundtrip fares are $15 and only credit or debit cards will be accepted for payment. Only debit and credit cards will be accepted.
Park and Ride locations include:
- Milwaukee/College Avenue Park and Ride (I-43/I-94/County ZZ/College Avenue)
- Milwaukee/Holt Avenue Park and Ride (I-94/I-43/US 41/Holt Avenue)
- Hales Corners Park and Ride (I-43/I-894/WIS 100)
- West Allis Park and Ride (State Fair Grounds – I-94/76th Street)
- Wauwatosa Park and Ride (US 45/Watertown Plank Road)
The drop-off location is located just west of Summerfest’s Mid Gate.
Riders are encouraged to purchase tickets online prior or to pay when exiting the bus. Prepaid riders must present their online purchase bar code at the Summerfest kiosk to receive the round-trip ride wristband.
Riders paying ahead of time will need to show their online purchase bar code to receive a wrist-band for their trip. That wristband is required to get back on the shuttle to make a return trip. Riders seeking a return trip without their wristband will be required to purchase another fare at full price.
The Hop
Milwaukee’s streetcar provides a free option for transportation to Summerfest, with stops on the Lower East Side, Downtown and the Historic Third Ward. It will have extended hours during the festival, running until 1 a.m.
It is a 10-minute walk via N. Broadway and E. Chicago Street to the festival’s Mid Gate.
Bike
Milwaukee has an extensive bikeshare system, Bublr Bikes, with more than 50 stations throughout the city. Several docks are located adjacent to the festival grounds. Find a nearby Bublr station at this link.
Bublr is also providing extra bike parking near the Discovery World Bublr bike docking station so you’ll be sure to have a place to park your Bublr while you’re at the festival.
Users can check out a bike for a fee anywhere in the system and check it in near the festival grounds. For more information, visit bublrbikes.org.
Attendees can also bike to the festival with their own bike, as there are bike racks near every gate.
Rideshare
Rideshare pickups and drop-offs at Summerfest will be located right outside of the Mid Gate at E. Chicago St. and N. Jackson St. and outside the north gate at Michigan Street near Art Museum Drive.
Summerfest also provided some tips to follow for rideshare users, such as looking at fare before accepting, checking the license plate on cars and confirming your name with a driver. Surge pricing from Lyft and Uber has historically made this one of the most expensive options.
Bus
Although MCTS no longer provides shuttle service to the festival, it has seven bus lines that bring riders within walking distance of the grounds. It also has a new mobile app for purchasing fares that can be downloaded at this link.
Train
If coming to Milwaukee from Chicago, Racine or Kenosha, the Amtrak Hiawatha Service is a viable option.
The train has stops at Chicago’s Union Station, suburban Glenview, Ill., and the Village of Sturtevant in Racine County. The timing of the trips may require an overnight stay.
Boat
Lakeshore State Park has several public docks, but they are often busy during festival season and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Once your boat is docked, it is a seven-minute walk to Summerfest Grounds. More information is available on the Friends of Lakeshore State Park website.
Walking
For those who live close by, there are several entrances you can get to by walking.
The North Gate is the nearest to E. Wisconsin Ave. and people can walk down to it via O’Donnell Park. The Mid Gate lines up with E. Chicago St. The southern gate is closest to E. Erie St.
Bar Shuttles
Historically, many bars and taverns have provided shuttles to Summerfest. Below is a list of bars Urban Milwaukee has been able to confirm are operating a shuttle to Summerfest this year.
Downtown
Milwaukee Brat House
1013 N. Old World 3rd St.
downtown.milwaukeebrathouse.com/
414-273-8709
Shuttles run each day of the festival beginning at 1 p.m.
Oak Barrel Public House
1033 N. Old World 3rd St.
oakbarrelmilwaukee.com
414-897-8320
Shuttles run everyday of the festival beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Who’s on Third
1007 N. Old World 3rd St.
whosonthirdmke.com
414-897-8373
Shuttles run for free 3:30 p.m to Midnight on Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to Midnight on Thursdays and Fridays and 2 p.m. to Midnight on Saturdays.
Third Street Tavern
1110 N. Old World 3rd St.
thirdstreettavernmke.com
414-897-8137
Shuttles run everyday of the festival beginning at 3:00 p.m.
North
Milwaukee Brat House
4022 N. Oakland Ave.
shorewood.milwaukeebrathouse.com
414-539-5826
Shuttles are free with a food or beverage purchase. Shuttles will run continuously throughout the day.
East
Jack’s American Pub
1323 E. Brady St.
jacksamericanpub.com
414-763-2830
Shuttles run throughout the day and are free with food or beverage purchase.
South
Steny’s Tavern
800 S. 2nd St.
stenystavern.com
414-672-7139
Beginning at 1 p.m. the bar will offer hourly shuttles. After 5 p.m. there will be a shuttle every 30 minutes.
Fat Daddy’s
120 W. National Ave.
fatdaddyball.com
414-347-0524
Shuttles, free with a drink purchase, will start at 5 p.m. Thursdays through Fridays, and at 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
O’Lydia’s
331 S. 1st St.
olydias.com
414-271-7546
Free shuttle service.
Spirits Bar and Grill
922 Milwaukee Ave.
South Milwaukee
www.facebook.com/spiritssouthmilwaukee/
414-762-2005
Shuttles begin on Thursdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. On Saturdays, shuttles begin at 2 p.m. Riders must purchase a minimum of two drinks.
West
Camp Bar
6600 W. North Ave.
campbarmke.com
414-763-3793
Rides begin at 4 p.m. Cost is $20 and comes with a free drink.
Paulie’s Pub and Eatery
8031 W. Greenfield Ave.
pauliespubandeatery.com
414-257-2854
Riders must be 21 or older. A two drink minimum is required for shuttle ride. Shuttles run until a half hour after the end of the festival.
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