Getting to Summerfest is sometimes half the battle. Don't expect to drive right up to gates to snag "rock star" parking (without paying $20). If you insist on taking your car, be prepared to pay to park in a lot, or to walk a mile or two from a hard-won free parking space. A much better bet is to hop on the city bus, or to take one of the shuttles tooling around the East Side, South Side and Wisconsin Avenue.
Shuttles:
Free East Side ShuttleBe forewarned: this shuttle is commonly referred to as the "drunk bus" (at least at night -- day time riders are usually pretty well-behaved). Pick it up at Hooligan’s, BBC, Hotel Foster, Judges Irish Pub, Nomad, Hi-Hat/Garage, Club Brady, Vitucci’s and Cans, and it will drop you at the South Gate of the Summerfest Grounds. Shuttles are round trip and can be picked up at the same point as drop off.
Cost: Free
Contact: Call 414.273.5230 for details
Free South Side Shuttle
Pick up the South Side shuttle at Spirits, Wayne’s, the Blue Pig or King Pins, and it will drop you at the South Gate of the Summerfest Grounds. Shuttles are round trip and can be picked up at the same point as drop off.
Cost: Free
Contact: Call 414.762.2005 for details
Milwaukee County Transit System:
$3 Downtown Shuttle
This shuttle runs daily every 7 to 10 minutes along Wisconsin Avenue between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. Buses operate in both directions along Wisconsin Avenue between N. James Lovell Street and N. Jackson Street, except where the bus detours to travel along Michigan Street during the Milwaukee River Bridge construction. Pick it up at any bus stop marked with the Summerfest smiley face, and it will drop you at the North Gate of the Summerfest Grounds.
Cost: Roundtrip fare is $3 for adults, $1.50 for children under 12 and for seniors.
Contact: Call 414.344.6711 or visit www.ridemcts.com for details
Park free at any of the 10 local Park-and-Ride Lots and hop on a Freeway Flyer on one of the 9 routes to Summerfest. These lots are located: College Avenue, both lots at I-94; Holt Avenue at I-94; Loomis Road south of Coldspring Rd.; Whitnall/Hales Corners at Hwy 100 at I-43; State Fair Park at S. 76th St. & W. Kearney St.; Watertown Plank Road, at US Hwy. 45; Edgerton & S. 72nd at the Southridge parking lot; Green Bay Road, just north of Brown Deer Road; Brown Deer Road, at I-43; Ryan Road at I-94.
Cost: $6.50 for adults, $3 for children (under 12), senior citizens and people with disabilities with proper I.D. Fare is round-trip. Exact fare required.
When: Weekdays: Flyers will run every half hour from Freeway Flyer lots and Summerfest from 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Flyers will run every 15 minutes from Freeway Flyer lots and Summerfest from 5 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Weekends (Saturday & Sunday): Shuttles will run every 15 - 20 minutes from Freeway Flyer lots and Summerfest from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., except service to the Southridge Park-Ride Lot, which is every 15 - 30 minutes on weekends.
Contact: Call 414.344.6711 or visit www.ridemcts.com for details
Regular Bus Service
Call 414.344.6711 or visit the MCTS website at www.ridemcts.com for detailed route, schedule and fare information.
Two-wheeled Vehicle Preferred Parking:
Ride your bicycle, motorcycle, moped or any other two-wheeled vehicle to Summerfest, and you can park in a specific free lots near the Mid Gate at East Chicago Street and North Harbor Drive. Space is limited.More on Summerfest 2012:
- Summerfest 2012 will run from June 27 - July 1, and July 3 - 8.
- General Admission to Summerfest will be $15 -- unless you're one of the wise visitors who reads this list of Summerfest Free Admission Deals.
- Summerfest 2012 Marcus Headliners.
