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Airport Basics.....
General Mitchell Airport (call sign MKE) is Milwaukee’s main airport and the 47th most trafficked airport in the United States, with over 3.8 million passengers arriving and departing every year. While roughly 92 miles from the city of Chicago, many call General Mitchell “Chicago’s third airport,” allowing travelers in the Northern and Western suburbs the ability to travel without braving the trip to O’Hare or Midway.
Milwaukee Airport Car Rental (Getting to Milwaukee from the Airport).....
Car rental companies available at the Mitchell airport currently include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Each rental car owned by these companies is close to the airport and should provide a quality car at a reasonable price.
Getting to Milwaukee is not difficult from the airport. The total drive is probably around 15 minutes and less than 8 miles. Watch for blue overhead signs pointing you to Milwaukee as you travel out of the airport facility. Signs will direct you to Milwaukee via Interstate 94, and this is probably the preferred method. You will drive out on the airport spur road for over a mile, as overhead signs are now green instead of blue. Keep watching for directions to Milwaukee via 94. Exit right towards Milwaukee, stay on 94 and continue to watch for signs as you drive right into Milwaukee.
Remember to re-fuel before leaving the city of Milwaukee. There may be a service station near the airport, but we aren't aware of one near - at least without having to exit off of 94. So, we usually recommend filling up close to Milwaukee before getting on 94 back to the airport.
Getting to The General Mitchell Airport.....
Getting to General Mitchell is an easy task. A dedicated train line, the Amtrak Hiawatha, runs from Chicago to Milwaukee, with intermediary stops at Glenview, IL, and Sturtevant, WI. Regional transportation branches off from the Glenview stop; the Metra rail line reaches into the northwest suburbs, while an army of PACE buses stop all over the metropolitan area. If you decide to travel by car, simply hop on I-94 and follow the clearly placed exit signs to the airport. A word of warning, however: as is typical in the Midwest, Milwaukee is seemingly always under heavy construction, especially around the arteries to the city on I-94 and I-894; be sure to check traffic reports before you leave and budget time for slow spots around the city.
Milwaukee Airport Amenities.....
The airport has a host of amenities, including over 20 dining options, a chapel, and airport shuttles to local Milwaukee hotels. In addition, while you are waiting for your flight, you can visit the General Mitchell Gallery of Flight, home to model planes, placards surrounding the life of General William Mitchell, and gifts for all the people back home.
Car Rental Excursions.....
The city of Milwaukee has a plethora of things to do. For ten days in summer, Summer fest starts, where over 500 musical acts perform on the Milwaukee Lakefront. Last year’s featured guests were Peter Gabriel, Lil Wayne, and Def Leppard. In terms of sports, Milwaukee sports two teams in the Big Four sports leagues, the Brewers, a baseball team, and the Bucks, a basketball team. They also boast the Admirals, a minor-league hockey team who play in the Bradley Center, also home to the Bucks. In terms of restaurants and nightclubs, Milwaukee has a thriving city center. As you could probably tell by the presence of the Milwaukee Brewers, the city is host to many local breweries including the Miller brewery, where tours can be procured.
Below are some car rental driving distances both to Milwaukee and from the Airport.
Distances to Milwaukee:
From Racine: 24.5 mi, 45 minutes
From Kenosha: 43 mi, 1 hour 0 minutes
From Madison: 79 mi, 1 hour 30 minutes
From Chicago: 90 mi, 1 hour 50 minutes
From Rockford: 95 mi, 1 hour 45 minutes
From Green Bay: 114 mi, 2 hours 0 minutes
From Aurora: 117 mi, 2 hours 10 minutes
From South Bend: 186 mi, 2 hours 50 minutes
From Detroit: 285 mi, 6 hours, 30 minutes
Distances from General Mitchell Airport:
To Harley Davidson Museum, 8 Miles
To Milwaukee Art Museum, 8 Miles.
To Miller Park, 10 Miles
To Lakefront Brewery, 10 Miles
To Milwaukee County Zoo, 15 Miles
To Basilica of St Josaphat, 5 Miles
To Palermo Pizza Tour, 9 Miles
Car Rental Types Available.....
With the price of fuel always on the rise (it seems), it always makes good sense to at least check the prices of economy cars. However, if you feel that's not what you're looking for, the airport will also provide customers with Luxury cars, Minivans, and even SUV's if more room is what you need. It's generally recommended to book early to make certain of securing the type of vehicle that you need.
Source: General Mitchell Airport