05-05-2025
Skip Summerfest traffic. Here's how to get to the festival in 2025 without driving
One of America's largest music festivals is returning to Milwaukee's lakefront this summer with dozens of new headliners taking the stage. Milwaukee County Transit System announced this month it is offering several transit options for festivalgoers traveling to Summerfest 2025 without a car.
Summerfest runs three weekends from June 19-21, June 26-28, and July 3-5. Here's some options on how to get to the festival this year without a car.
These Milwaukee County Transit System transit options will take you to or near Henry Maier Festival Park (the Summerfest grounds):
MCTS shuttles offer nonstop direct access to the festival entrance outside the Mid Gate. Three Summerfest shuttles will run about every 15 minutes from College Avenue, Brown Deer Park or Hales Corners Park and Ride lots. Shuttles are cashless; passengers can pay using the Umo app, WisGo Card, most credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay. Round-trip fare is $12 for riders ages 12 and up, and $6 for youth and seniors and those with qualifying disabilities. The first shuttle leaves at 11:30 a.m. with the last buses departing Summerfest Mid Gate at 12:30 a.m.
MCTS Connect: The Connect 1 BRT line is available to Summerfest riders with stops at The Couture on Michigan Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Drive. Buses will run more often on Saturday, leaving every 10 minutes.
MCTS Regular Service: Several MCTS local routes will get you close to the grounds. For an extensive list of routes, visit Some pick up and drop off locations for MCTS regular routes include the Greenline, Route 15, Route 18 and Route 30.
Several Milwaukee bars run shuttles to festival grounds during Summerfest. Here's a list of bars offering shuttle service:
From the North:
McBob's, 4919 W. North Ave.
Spitfire's, 5018 W. State St.
Jack's American Pub, 1323 E. Brady St.
WurstBar, 1239 E. Brady St.
Milwaukee Brat House, 1013 N. 3rd St.
Shorewood Brat House, 4022 N. Oakland Ave.
Belmont, 784 N. Jefferson St.
Izzy Hops, 2311 N. Murray Ave.
Uncle Buck's on Third, 1125 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Drive
Buck Bradley's,1019 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr Drive
Camp Bar Wauwatosa, 6600 W. North Ave.
Who's on Third, 1007 N. 3rd St.
From the South:
O'Lydia's, 338 S. 1st St.
Steny's Tavern & Grill, 800 S. 2nd St.
Fat Daddy's, 120 W. National Ave.
King Pins Spirits, 4102 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Spirits, 922 Milwaukee Ave.
Newport, 939 E. Conway St.
Paulies Pub, 8031 W. Greenfield Ave.
Gingerz, 3915 S. Howell Ave.
Dale Z's 3585 S. Howell Ave.
Jersey's, 4024 S. Howell Ave.
Redbar, 2245 E. St. Francis Ave.
The Wisconsin Club, 900 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Clementine's, 3143 S. Clement Ave.
Patti's Power Plant, 2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Attendees can rent a bike from nonprofit bikeshare program Bublr Bikes at one of the more than 100 docking stations in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and West Allis and bike to Summerfest. You can dock your bike at the Discovery World station and walk over to the festival grounds. For festivalgoers who are taking their own bike, you can park near the Mid, North and South gates.
You can also take a Lime scooter to the festival grounds by downloading the app and parking it at designated parking areas near Summerfest's North and Mid Gates.
RELATED: Bublr Bikes is adding 500 new bikes to its fleet this year
The Hop streetcar will drop off festivalgoers at Milwaukee's lakefront with a stop at the Couture. The service is free and runs until 12 a.m. weekdays and on Saturday, and until 10 p.m. on Sunday. The L-line arrives every 20 minutes. You can see the full schedule here.
Drivers can park at the Henry Maier Festival Parking lots starting at 9 a.m. Parking is $40 a day and is available on a first come, first served basis, according to its website. You can purchase parking at the lot entrances or in advance online.
For a list of public parking lots near Summerfest grounds, visit Park Milwaukee.
RELATED: Here's how to apply for Milwaukee County Transit System's first-ever apprenticeship programs
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Summerfest 2025: Shuttle, schedule, parking, bus routes, Lime scooters
