Travel

By Air

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport


Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is located just eight (8) miles from downtown Milwaukee. The airport serves the two million people in metropolitan Milwaukee, as well as the millions of others that live in Southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. In fact, Milwaukee Mitchell serves as the third major airport in the Chicago-Milwaukee mega-city. The airport is conveniently located on Interstate 94 and is just a short 10-minute drive from the conference hotel.

Schedule your non-stop flight to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) from these cities.

Geographic Area Non-Stop Cities
East Coast Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, Tampa, Washington D.C.
Midwest Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis, St. Louis
Mountain West Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City
West Coast Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma
International Cancun, Guadalajara, Toronto

If your city isn’t connected non-stop then schedule your connecting flight through any of the major hubs of these airlines serving Milwaukee.

Know these airport basics:

  • The airport is eight (8) miles from downtown Milwaukee.
  • The main terminal has two concourses named C and D.
  • TSA Precheck is available in both concourses.
  • Both concourses connect to one central mall area and baggage claim.
  • Expect a 20-minute walk and baggage claim time on arrival.
  • Taxis, ride-share, and public transit options are all available. Taxi cost is approximately $30 to downtown.

Use the Milwaukee Mitchell Airport Ground Transportation Information to help you transit from the airport to downtown Milwaukee.

By Train

Amtrak departs Milwaukee’s Intermodal Station

Amtrak departs Milwaukee’s Intermodal Station


Once the hometown and hub city of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad (the Milwaukee Road), Milwaukee is well-linked to other cities in the United States through the Amtrak passenger network. The Empire Builder stops in Milwaukee each day on its transcontinental route between Chicago, Portland and Seattle. And, Amtrak Hiawatha service connects Milwaukee’s downtown with Union Station in downtown Chicago with seven (7) daily roundtrips.

  • Note that Union Station is not located near O’hare or Midway airports in Chicago. Union Station is in downtown Chicago.
  • Visit Amtrak’s Hiawatha service page for the most up-to-date schedule information.

By Car

Harley Davidson Riders near Downtown Milwaukee

Harley Davidson Riders near Downtown Milwaukee


If you are renting a car at the airport, driving your own car from home, or perhaps riding your Harley Davidson motorcycle on an epic cross-country trip, then please note that the conference hotel and venue are located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.

Freeway route from General Mitchell International Airport:

  • Follow the airport spur west toward I-94 Chicago/Milwaukee.
  • Follow I-94/Milwaukee at the spur interchange with I-94.
  • Follow signs for I-43 North Downtown (I-94/I-894 will veer away to the west).
  • Take I-43 North to downtown.
  • Follow the exit for I-794 East.
  • Exit I-794 East at Van Buren.
  • Take Van Buren north to Kilbourn Avenue.
  • Turn left on Kilbourn Avenue and drive west four to five blocks.
  • The hotel is at the intersection of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

More interesting surface street route from General Mitchell International Airport:

  • This path will sweep you up over the Port of Milwaukee right next to Lake Michigan and has a stunning view of the lakefront and skyline.
  • Leave the airport but do not follow the airport spur.
  • Follow Wisconsin Highway 38/Howell Avenue by veering quickly to the right/north just as you leave the parking garages.
  • Take Highway 38/Howell Avenue north a few blocks to Layton Avenue — a major intersection.
  • Turn right on Layton Avenue. Go east on Layton with the airport now on your right-hand side.
  • Move to the left lane. Follow the signs a few blocks later for Wisconsin Highway 794. Turn left/north on Wisconsin Highway 794. This is a parkway — warning, it is a speed trap with a slower speed limit even though it looks like a freeway.
  • Follow WI-794 north for a few miles. It will become I-794 as you approach downtown and start to rise onto the Hoan bridge over the Port of Milwaukee.
  • Enjoy Milwaukee’s ocean on your right hand side and as you finish crossing the bridge, move to the right to exit onto Michigan and Lake Drive. Do not follow I-794 around the sharp curve to the west.
  • Exit and move left and turn left (west) on Michigan Street.
  • Turn right at any one of the next two or three intersections and go one block north to Wisconsin Avenue.
  • Turn left on Wisconsin Avenue and drive through the middle of Milwaukee’s Central Business District to Water street. Admire the skyscrapers and historic buildings and eventually turn right on Water just before the Milwaukee River.
  • Turn right onto Water street.
  • The conference hotel (St. Kate) is located three blocks north at the intersection of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

From Chicagoland

  • Take any one of the Chicago Freeways to join I-294 North (Tristate Tollway).
  • Note that the Tristate Tollway is not inexpensive. Have at least $20 in bills and change prepared for the journey — especially if you are driving the entire Tollway from the south side of Chicagoland.
  • Take I-294 through the middle of Chicagoland and join I-94 into Wisconsin (direction Milwaukee).
  • Take I-94 approximately 30 miles north of the Wisconsin border and you will be in the vicinity of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
  • Stay on I-94 past the airport.
  • Follow the signs for I-43 north / Downtown Milwaukee.
  • Do not follow I-894.
  • Take I-43 North to downtown.
  • Follow the exit for I-794 East.
  • Exit I-794 East at Van Buren.
  • Take Van Buren north to Kilbourn Avenue.
  • Turn left on Kilbourn Avenue and drive west four to five blocks.
  • The hotel is at the intersection of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

From Green Bay

  • Take Interstate 43 south to McKinley Avenue exit.
  • Turn left on McKinley.
  • Take McKinley to Water Street.
  • Turn right on Water Street and drive four blocks to Kilbourn Avenue.
  • The hotel is at the intersection of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

From the Fox Cities

  • Take I-41 South into the heart of the Milwaukee suburban area
  • Join I-94 East / Milwaukee Downtown.
  • Take I-94 East into downtown.
  • Merge onto I-794 into downtown
  • Exit I-794 East at Van Buren.
  • Take Van Buren north to Kilbourn Avenue.
  • Turn left on Kilbourn Avenue and drive west four to five blocks.
  • The hotel is at the intersection of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

From Rockford, Beloit, and points southwest of Milwaukee

  • Take I-43 North into the Milwaukee suburban area
  • Merge onto I-794 into downtown
  • Exit I-794 East at Van Buren.
  • Take Van Buren north to Kilbourn Avenue.
  • Turn left on Kilbourn Avenue and drive west four to five blocks.
  • The hotel is at the intersection of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

From Madison, Minneapolis and points west of Milwaukee

  • Take I-94 East to Milwaukee.
  • Merge onto I-794 into downtown.
  • Exit I-794 East at Van Buren.
  • Take Van Buren north to Kilbourn Avenue.
  • Turn left on Kilbourn Avenue and drive west four to five blocks.
  • The hotel is at the intersection of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue.