Transportation &
Parking

Drive
Plan your route ahead of time. For current and up-to-the-minute road closures and traffic conditions, please visit www.511wi.gov. Apps like SpotHero allow discounted parking rates and the chance to secure your spot in advance. Click here to jump to the parking section of this page.
 

Train
Use the Amtrak Hiawatha train service between the Chicago area and Milwaukee (including Racine and Kenosha). Get on the train from Chicago's Union Station, Glenview, or Sturtevant and get dropped off at the downtown Milwaukee Intermodal Station. For details, prices, and timetables, visit amtrakhiawatha.com. The Milwaukee Airport Railroad Station serves rail passengers connecting to flights at General Mitchell International Airport (Milwaukee), along with rail-only passengers utilizing Amtrak's Hiawatha Service. For further information on connecting to the airport, click here.
 

The Hop—Streetcar
Utilize Milwaukee's free streetcar to get the festival. The Hop F-Line stops near Discovery World, just a short walk from the North Gate. Park near one of The Hop's stations, hop on the streetcar, and get off at the Lakefront stop. Services extend to 1 a.m. during summer festivals.

From June 15 through August 31, all Hop streetcars will run along the F-Line and stop at the Lakefront station!

Click here to visit The Hop's website. View their interactive map, learn more about where to park near each of The Hop's stations, and view schedules.
 

Ride-Share
Uber, Lyft, or taxi to Irish Fest. The drop-off and pick-up location for rideshares is at the North Gate.

 

Milwaukee County Transit Bus Service (MCTS)
Any festivalgoers or employees heading to and from Henry Maier Festival Park this summer can ride MCTS’s network of everyday bus routes, which includes several routes that have stops within walking distance of the park!

Don’t live along a bus route? Pro tip: Park your car near one of these bus routes (for free), then ride the bus to and from the action.

The Connect 1 BRT Line

The CONNECT 1 BRT line will be available to lakefront festival riders again this year. It’s the smoothest, quietest, and most eco-friendly ride around town. The CONNECT 1 BRT line is extended to the Coture transit concourse, a short walk to the festival's entrance. MCTS will provide more service on Saturdays with buses arriving every ten minutes. The nine-mile route from Wauwatosa's Watertown Plank Road Park and Ride lot to downtown Milwaukee will be $2 each way. Riders can charge their phones via the USB chargers located beneath many of the seats. All MCTS buses are accessible for persons using mobility devices. 

Hours of service are weekdays from approximately 4:35 a.m. to 1:39 a.m. and Saturdays from approximately 4:45 a.m. to 2:15 a.m.

Check out RideMCTS.com/CONNECT for route schedules, hours of service, and more.

Regular Bus Service Routes

Several MCTS local routes are within walking distance of Henry Maier Park. 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.

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. The Henry Maier Park 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.—andSaturdays—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. The Summerfest drop-off location is on Wisconsin and Cass, just north of the Summerfest grounds. Hours of service are weekdays from approximately 4:30 a.m. to a.m.-12:00 a.m and and Saturdays from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 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. The Henry Maier Park drop-off location is in the Third Ward along North Water Street. Hours of service are weekdays—approximately 3 a.m. to 1 p.m.—and Saturdays—approximately 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Route 18 - Pickup locations include the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, 84th Street and Greenfield Avenue, the VA Center, Downtown Milwaukee, and several places in between. The Henry Maier Park drop-off location is in the Third Ward along North Water Street. Hours of service are weekdays—approximately 4 a.m. to 2 p.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. The Henry Maier Park drop-off location is at Jackson and Wisconsin. Hours of service are weekdays from approximately 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturdays from approximately 4 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Best Routes by Direction

From the south:

• Green Line
• Route 15
• Route 18

From the west:

• CONNECT 1
• Route 18
• Route 30

From the north:

• Green Line
• Route 14
• Route 15

From downtown hotels and parking structures:

• CONNECT 1
• Green Line
• Route 15
• Route 18
• Route 30

For more route or fare information, go to RideMCTS.com. For personalized assistance planning your ride, you can call the MCTS Customer Service Center Monday – Friday between 8 am and 4:30 pm at 414-937-3218.

Milwaukee County's paratransit service, Transit Plus, will also be providing rides to Irish Fest. Riders should contact their assigned van provider to schedule a ride to the fun. Visit RideMCTS.com/ Accessibility to find out if you're eligible.

**Please note that the Milwaukee County Transit System no longer runs their park and ride service due to budget cuts and structural changes.