Fort McCoy Shuttle Service

Most Fort McCoy troops hit this shuttle right off AA’s ORD flights

American’s Chicago–La Crosse leg is the usual feeder for the Fort McCoy Shuttle Service, moving military passengers from LSE’s Main terminal straight to the installation. It’s not a walk-up public shuttle; rides are normally set up through Fort McCoy transportation or your unit when your orders list La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE) as your arrival point. If your itinerary shows AA flight numbers from ORD, odds are this is the ground piece on the back end.

The shuttle meets you curbside outside the Main terminal’s single baggage claim area, about a 1–2 minute walk from the carousel to the pickup zone. Fort McCoy sits roughly 35 miles east of LSE along US‑16/US‑12, so drive time runs around 45–60 minutes depending on traffic and winter conditions. Vans are standard; larger groups may see a small bus if the base books it ahead of a big training rotation.

Pricing typically runs through government travel orders or unit-arranged billing, so most riders never pay the driver directly and don’t get a retail fare quote. If finance or SATO asks, the one-way cost often gets bundled in with your DTS authorization under “commercial ground,” alongside your AA ticket from Chicago O’Hare. Double-check that Fort McCoy is listed as your duty location and La Crosse (LSE) appears as your arrival airport before you depart.

Scheduling ties directly to airline times, especially the afternoon and evening American Airlines arrivals from ORD that hit La Crosse in the 13:00–22:00 window. Fort McCoy transportation usually tracks your AA flight number and adjusts if you misconnect in Chicago. If a winter storm at O’Hare delays you by 2–3 hours, expect the shuttle to slide too, but call the Fort McCoy duty desk or transportation office the moment your new arrival time posts.

Shuttle access sits outside security, so after landing at the Main terminal you exit the sterile area, grab any checked bags from the single carousel, and head to the front curb labeled “Prearranged / Military.” There’s no ticket counter for the Fort McCoy Shuttle inside LSE, and the airport information desk by the main entrance usually just points you back to your orders or the base phone numbers. Build at least 30 minutes after scheduled block‑in for bags and a quick restroom stop.

Final tip: before you board your ORD–LSE leg, save Fort McCoy’s transportation and staff duty numbers in your phone and screenshot your orders; if your AA flight number changes at the last minute, you can update them while still at the Chicago gate.