1) MCTS SHUTTLES
(New this year: The shuttles are cashless)
MCTS’s special service is a favorite among Summerfest goers. The tradition is back this year with two shuttles that run approximately every half hour from the College Avenue or Brown Deer Park and Ride lot. These shuttles offer convenient, non-stop, direct access to the festival grounds entrance located immediately outside the Summerfest Mid Gate.
The shuttles are now cashless, and riders will pay upon arrival at Summerfest. There are a variety of options for payment, including the Umo app, WisGo card, M-Card, VISA, Mastercard, American Express or Discover card. Round-trip fare is $10 for riders ages 12 and up, and $5 for Reduced Fare riders (youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and those with qualifying disabilities).
The first shuttle will depart the lot at 11:30 a.m. with the last buses leaving the Summerfest Mid Gate at 12:30 a.m. Parking at the College Avenue and Brown Deer Park and Ride lot is free, on a first come, first-served basis.
2) MCTS CONNECT
The new CONNECT 1 BRT line will be available to lakefront festival riders for the first time in history. It’s the smoothest, quietest, and most eco-friendly ride around town. Catch a ride every 10-15 minutes along the nine-mile route from Wauwatosa’s Watertown Plank Road Park and Ride lot to downtown Milwaukee. Riders can charge their phone via the USB chargers located beneath many of the seats. The best location to get off will be at the corner of of Wisconsin and Van Buren, just blocks from the Henry Maier Park North Gate.
Ride the CONNECT BRT for free thanks to Umo Mobility.
All MCTS buses are accessible for persons using mobility devices.
The full 9-mile CONNECT 1 traveling one-way end-to-end will take 34 minutes; from Milwaukee’s downtown to the medical center in Wauwatosa 30 minutes, a travel time-savings of up to 8 minutes compared with existing bus service.
Hours of service are weekdays - approximately 4:35 a.m. to 1:39 a.m. and Saturdays - approximately 4:45 a.m. to 2:15 a.m.
3) MCTS Regular Service
Several MCTS local routes are within walking distance of Summerfest. A 90-minute fare is $2 for riders ages 12 and up and $1 for youth 11 and under and seniors 65 and over, and people with qualifying disabilities. Riders pay on the bus via the Umo app, WisGo card, M-Card or cash. All MCTS buses are accessible for persons using mobility devices.
Check out Summerfest.com, RideMCTS.com/CONNECT for route schedules, hours of service, and more. Riders can also use the Trip Planning features on RideMCTS.com and the Umo app to plan their route.
Pick up and drop off locations for MCTS regular routes include:
- GreenLine - Pickup locations include Bayshore Mall, UWM, Walkers Point, Humboldt Park, General Mitchell Airport, and several places in between. Summerfest drop off location is in the Third Ward along North Water Street. Hours of service are weekdays - approximately 3 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturdays - from approximately 5 a.m. to 3 a.m.
- Route 14 - Pick up locations include Bayshore Mall, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Riverwest, Lower East Side and everywhere in between. Summerfest drop off location is on Wisconsin and Cass just north of Summerfest grounds. Hours of service are weekdays - approximately 4:30 a.m.-12:00 a.m and Saturdays - approximately 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
- Route 15 - Pickup locations include Riverwest, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Downtown Milwaukee, Bay View, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, and several places in between. Summerfest drop off location is in the Third Ward along North Water Street. Hours of service are weekdays - approximately 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturdays - approximately 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Route 18 - Pickup locations include Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, 84th Street and Greenfield Avenue, the VA Center, Downtown Milwaukee, and several places in between. Summerfest drop off location is in the Third Ward along North Water Street. Hours of service are weekdays - approximately 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturdays - approximately 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Route 30 - Pickup locations are along Sherman Boulevard south of Mill Road, the Washington Park area, from UW-Milwaukee to Downtown and several places in between. Summerfest drop off location is at Jackson and Wisconsin. Hours of service are weekdays - approximately 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturdays - approximately 4 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Best MCTS Routes by Direction