One-way Greyhound tickets to Milwaukee start around $20–$40
Greyhound runs long-distance coaches into downtown Milwaukee, then you connect to General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) by local transit, rideshare, or taxi. The intercity leg is on Greyhound; the last 6–8 miles to the Main Terminal are on you. Think of Greyhound as the budget piece for the long haul, not the airport shuttle.
Most Greyhound routes arrive and depart from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station at 433 W St. Paul Ave, about 10–15 minutes by car from MKE in light traffic. From there, rideshare to the airport usually runs $20–$30 before tip, and a metered taxi can land closer to $35 depending on time of day. Add this to your ticket cost when you compare against flying into MKE directly.
For the cheapest transfer, riders pair Greyhound with local transit. The MCTS GreenLine bus links downtown to MKE in about 25–35 minutes, with adult fares around $2–$3 as of 2024. You board the GreenLine on Wisconsin Avenue or at other downtown stops, then get dropped near the Main Terminal baggage claim doors 1–2. Build 15 extra minutes for waiting at the stop in cold or snow.
Greyhound timetables shift often, but you’ll typically see early-morning and late-night arrivals from Chicago and Minneapolis that hit Milwaukee before 7:00 a.m. and after 10:00 p.m. If your flight from MKE departs before 9:00 a.m., aim for a Greyhound that reaches downtown at least 2–3 hours prior, since you still need to ride 8 miles to the airport and clear security in the Main Terminal.
Booking is online or app-based, with cheaper “Economy” fares that can run under $25 on off-peak days between Chicago and Milwaukee. Seat selection and refundable tickets cost more, sometimes adding $10–$20 each way. Factor bag fees too: Greyhound generally allows one stowed bag (up to 50 lb) and one carry-on, but extra or overweight bags add $15–$45, which can erase the savings versus a regional flight.
Step-by-step: Using Greyhound to reach MKE
- 1. Buy a Greyhound ticket to Milwaukee Intermodal Station (433 W St. Paul Ave) that lands at least 3 hours before your flight time.
- 2. On arrival, grab your checked luggage from the coach bay within 10–15 minutes of parking.
- 3. Decide your transfer: rideshare/taxi (10–15 minutes, roughly $20–$35) or MCTS GreenLine (25–35 minutes, around $2–$3).
- 4. For the bus, walk 5–10 minutes to a GreenLine stop along Wisconsin Avenue and pay with cash or the local fare app.
- 5. Ride to the airport stop near the Main Terminal doors, then head inside to ticketing and TSA on the upper level.
Practical tip: if you’re landing at MKE and backtracking to a late-night Greyhound, schedule at least 90 minutes between plane touchdown and bus departure, since checked bags at MKE can take 15–30 minutes and a downtown rideshare still needs 10–20 more.