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Summerfest Transportation and Directions
Driving to the Festival? Patrons are encouraged to exit at any of the downtown exits before the Lakefront exit and park in one of the many downtown parking structures. Look for posters that Summerfest has placed with a QR code to scan at designed lots for the best walking route to the grounds.
Utilizing Local Transportation Options? There are many convenient transportation choices, including Milwaukee County Transit (MCTS) Summerfest Shuttles, the MCTS CONNECT, Ride Share, Bar Shuttles, The Hop, and more! For more information on all your options, please see below. Transit Plus eligible riders interested in attending the festival can contact their assigned provider to set up a ride. Transit Plus riders will be dropped off and picked up directly outside of the Summerfest Mid-gate.
If you are parking at Summerfest for a show at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, please plan enough time to navigate traffic and park, before concert start time, as lots fill up quickly.
(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab) opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab) Buy Summerfest Parking Buy Downtown Parking Complete parking information can be found here(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)
Driving
Driving to the festival? View our best route guides.
NOTE: Don't get stuck in traffic. Patrons are encouraged to exit at any of the downtown exits prior to the Lakefront exit and park in one of the many downtown parking structures.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM
Summerfest Shuttles
MCTS’s special service is a favorite among Summerfest goers. There will be three shuttles that run approximately every 15 minutes from College Avenue*, Brown Deer Park or Hales Corners Park and Ride lots. These shuttles offer convenient, non-stop, direct access to the festival grounds entrance llocated outside the Summerfest Mid Gate.
The shuttles are cashless, and riders will pay upon arrival at Summerfest. There are a variety of options for payment, including the Umo app, WisGo card, - VISA, Mastercard, or Discover card, Google Pay and Apple Pay. Round-trip fare is $12 for riders ages 12 and up, and $6 for Reduced Fare riders (youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and those with qualifying disabilities).
The first shuttle will depart the lot at 11:30 a.m. with the last buses leaving the Summerfest Mid Gate at 12:30 a.m. Parking at the Park and Ride lots are free, on a first come, first-served basis.
*Note: During Summerfest the College Avenue Park and Ride lot will open at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays and remain open on Fridays and Saturdays. The lot will then close on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Vehicles that remain in the lot after 1:00 p.m. on Sundays will be towed.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM Connect
The CONNECT 1 BRT line will be available to Summerfest riders again this year. The CONNECT 1 BRT stops at The Couture on Michigan Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Drive, just steps away from the Summerfest North Gate. In addition, buses will run more often on Saturdays - every 10 minutes! Riders can charge their phone via the USB chargers located beneath many of the seats. Riders pay before they board using the Umo app, WisGo card, or by VISA, Mastercard, Discover card, Google Pay or Apple Pay or cash at the Ticket Vending Machines located on platforms. A 90-minute fare is $2 for riders ages 12 and up and $1 for youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and people with qualifying disabilities. All MCTS buses are accessible for persons using mobility devices.
Hours of service are weekdays - approximately 4:35 a.m. to 1:39 a.m. and Saturdays - approximately 4:45 a.m. to 2:15 a.m.
Check out RideMCTS.com/CONNECT for route schedules, hours of service, and more.
Milwaukee County Transit System routes
Several MCTS local routes are within walking distance of Summerfest. Riders pay on the bus via the Umo app, WisGo card, M-Card or cash. All MCTS buses are accessible for persons using mobility devices.
As a reminder, MCTS follows a Sunday schedule on holidays such as July 4.
Transit Plus riders will be dropped off and picked up directly outside of the Summerfest Mid-gate. Transit Plus eligible riders interested in attending the festival can contact their assigned provider to set up a ride.
Bus lines - A 90-minute fare is:
- $2 for riders ages 12 and up
- $1 for youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and people with qualifying disabilities
- GreenLine
- Route 15
Shuttle:
- MCTS Shuttle at Brown Deer Park and Ride (Round-trip fare is $12 for riders ages 12 and up, and $6 for Reduced Fare riders (youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and those with qualifying disabilities)
Not sure which bus to ride? Simply download the Umo app to plan your trip. Don’t live along a bus route? Pro tip: Park your car near one of these bus routes (for free) then ride the bus to and from the festival.
Bus lines - A 90-minute fare is:
- $2 for riders ages 12 and up
- $1 for youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and people with qualifying disabilities
- CONNECT 1
- Route 18
- Route 30
Shuttle:
- MCTS Shuttle at Hales Corners Park and Ride (Round-trip fare is $12 for riders ages 12 and up, and $6 for Reduced Fare riders (youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and those with qualifying disabilities)
Not sure which bus to ride? Simply download the Umo app to plan your trip. Don’t live along a bus route? Pro tip: Park your car near one of these bus routes (for free) then ride the bus to and from the festival.
Bus lines - A 90-minute fare is:
- $2 for riders ages 12 and up
- $1 for youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and people with qualifying disabilities
- CONNECT 1
- GreenLine
- Route 15
- Route 18
- Route 30
Not sure which bus to ride? Simply download the Umo app to plan your trip. Don’t live along a bus route? Pro tip: Park your car near one of these bus routes (for free) then ride the bus to and from the festival.
Bus lines - A 90-minute fare is:
- $2 for riders ages 12 and up
- $1 for youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and people with qualifying disabilities
- GreenLine
- Route 15
- Route 18
Shuttles:
- MCTS Shuttle at College Avenue Park and Ride (Round-trip fare is $12 for riders ages 12 and up, and $6 for Reduced Fare riders (youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and those with qualifying disabilities)
- MCTS Shuttle at Hales Corners Park and Ride (Round-trip fare is $12 for riders ages 12 and up, and $6 for Reduced Fare riders (youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and those with qualifying disabilities)
Not sure which bus to ride? Simply download the Umo app to plan your trip. Don’t live along a bus route? Pro tip: Park your car near one of these bus routes (for free) then ride the bus to and from the festival.
Bar Shuttles
Here is a list of bars that currently offer shuttle service to Summerfest. Shuttle pick up and drop off are located at either the Summerfest North or South Gates
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Dousman Transport - https://dtcbus.net/summer-fest-charter/
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Jack's American Pub - 1323 E Brady St
-
Milwaukee Brat House (Milwaukee and Shorewood)
-
Vier North - 1832 E North Ave
- Camp Bar Wauwatosa - 6600 W North Ave, Wauwatosa
- O'lydia's - 338 S 1st St
- Steny's Tavern & Grill - 800 S 2nd St
- Spirits - 922 Milwaukee Ave, South Milwaukee
- Paulies Pub - 8031 W Greenfield Ave
- Dale Z's - 3585 S Howell Ave
- Spirtfire's on State - 5018 W State St
- Redbar - 2245 E St. Francis Ave
- The Wisconsin Club - 900 W Wisconsin Ave
The Hop Streetcar
The Hop streetcar provides an easy, fun and free option for traveling from numerous downtown destinations to Summerfest. Whether arriving in Milwaukee at the Intermodal station or heading down from East Town or the Lower East side, ride The Hop to either Historic Third Ward platform or the Lakefront.
Visit www.thehopmke.com to learn more about Milwaukee’s streetcar, including route maps, system schedules and real-time arrival information.
RIDEShare Scooters
Lime: Download the app, find a scooter and ride. Users can rent the nearest scooter and park it at designated parking locations found near Summerfest's North and Mid gates. Use promo code SUMMERFEST2025 for 2 free unlocks. Or use this link if you have the Lime App.
Spin: Download the Spin app to find scooters near your hotel and ride straight to the Summerfest entrance. Park at North or Mid Gate stations. Visiting from another city? You can ride Spin using the Bird app too—fast, easy, and convenient. Plus, ride Spin to and from the event and our team onsite will hook you up with free ride credits for your next trip.
RIDESHARE TO THE FEST
Rideshare pickups and drop-offs will be located outside the North Gate.
With a lot of movement around the city, here are a couple of tips to follow for the smoothest experience.
- You will always be able to see your fare before you accept the trip. We expect the busiest times to be on the weekends or as the headline acts finish up their encore.
- Always check the license plate in your app with the license plate of the vehicle.
- Confirm your name with your driver.
- If you are planning on traveling with a big crew, be sure to order a car that can fit up to six riders comfortably.
BUBLR BIKES
Greater Milwaukee’s nonprofit bike share program. Currently, the system has over 100 stations in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and West Allis. Users can check out a bike from any station and check it back in at any other station. For information on station locations and how to borrow a bike, visit bublrbikes.org.
AMTRAK HIAWATHA SERVICE
Coming to Summerfest from the Chicago area or Racine/Kenosha? Jam without traffic and take the train! Amtrak Hiawatha Service offers easy access to Summerfest from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station. You can catch the train to the fest from Chicago Union Station, Glenview, and Sturtevant (Racine/Kenosha). Visit Amtrak.com for more details.
BAdger Bus
Badger Bus will offer a special service to and from Madison and Summerfest 2025 FOUR times a day during the festival. Additional stops at Goerke’s Corners and Johnson Creek are also available. Visit Badger Bus for more details.