1. Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS)
The MCTS offers three different options for public transit to Summerfest this season and they all stop at or are within walking distance of Henry Maier Festival Park.
- MCTS Shuttle: This year, shuttles are cashless, and riders will pay once they arrive at Summerfest. Two shuttles run every half hour, one from College Avenue and the other from Brown Deer Park and Ride lot, where you can park for free. Round trips are $10 for riders 12 and up, and $5 for youth 11 and under, seniors 65 and over and those with a qualifying disability.
- MCTS Connect: This year, the CONNECT 1 BRT line will be offered to Summerfest riders for the first time, and throughout the duration of the festival, it’s free. Out of the three MCTS options, it is the most eco-friendly and quietest ride. The line runs every 10-15 minutes from the Wauwatosa Watertown Plank Road Park and Ride lot to downtown Milwaukee, within walking distance of Summerfest’s North Gate.
- MCTS Regular Service: For those not near the first two MCTS options, local transit routes in the greater Milwaukee area will get you within walking distance of the festival grounds. Prices on MCTS Regular Service are cheaper than shuttles, with prices set at $2 for riders 12 and up and $1 for Reduced Fare riders. Pay on the bus with the Umo app, WisGo card, M-card or cash.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
2. Ridesharing
Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft are an appealing option because you can decide exactly when you want to go to and leave the festival. For the safest trip possible, remember to confirm your driver’s name and license plate matches the information on your app. Summerfest expects that the busiest times for ridesharing will be on the weekends when headline acts wrap up. Pickups and drop-offs will be at the North Gate.
3. The Hop
As the name suggests, simply hop on and off this free streetcar service. The Hop has 10 stops that run throughout downtown Milwaukee, including stops at the Third Ward that will have you within walking distance of Summerfest. Get the TransLoc app for real-time information on streetcar arrivals and routes.
4. Bublr Bikes
Bublr Bikes is Greater Milwaukee’s nonprofit bike-share with a focus on accessible transportation. There are over 100 Bublr stations throughout the Milwaukee area, including one to drop your bike off at the Summerfest grounds. To find a station, you can download the BCycle app and pay at a station kiosk or online. For single rides, pricing is set at 25 cents per minute.
Note: For those riding their own bicycles, bike parking is located near the Mid, North and South Gates.
5. Scooters
Until the end of 2023, Milwaukee is participating in a dockless scooter pilot program that gives residents the opportunity to try three scooter companies: Veo, Lime and Spin. Each scooter operator has its own app for locating rides, and each costs less than $1 per minute. As they are dockless scooters, you can park your scooter anywhere, as long as it does not block transit stops, driveways or accessible pathways for those with mobility devices. If you decide to scooter, remember to always stay in the bike lane and off of the sidewalks.
6. Bar Shuttles
Keep the party going all day long with a ride to the fest via a bar shuttle. Over 20 bars currently offer shuttle services, including Camp Bar and O’Lydia’s. Most are free or complimentary with a drink purchase. Shuttles will pick up and drop off at the North or South Gates. For the full list of bar shuttles, visit summerfest.com/getting-here/.
7. Walking
For those closer to the festival, you could walk to the grounds. You can find walking routes to Summerfest depending on your location at summerfest.com/getting-here/.
