The Amtrak Hiawatha is a daily train with seven round trips between Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL, with intermediate stops at Gen. Mitchell International Airport, Sturtevant, WI, and Glenview, IL. The route is 86 miles end-to-end and takes about 90 minutes.
The Hiawatha is not only the first Amtrak train I’ve been on, but I’ve also used it more than any other, so I have a few insights to share. I’ve relied on this train to connect me with various modes of transportation and for fun.
Often, I’ve taken this train to Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport to catch a flight or to Chicago, where I’ve connected with the Orange Line, which took me to Midway, or the Blue Line, which goes to O’Hare. In addition, I’ve used this train to connect with buses.
This train offers excellent flexibility to intermodal travelers and links passengers to Amtrak’s national and regional networks. It is also a good option if you are looking to visit the biggest city in each state.
A quick look at the Amtrak Hiawatha
- The Hiawatha schedule
- Seating accommodations
- The Hiawatha has open seating, so there are no reserved seats.
- The train only offers coach class
- Optional Quiet car.
- There is a chance you could ride backward on this train.
- There is Free Amtrak Wi-Fi
- The Hiawatha does not have food service.
- You can bring food and drink on this train, but no consumption of alcohol,
- You cannot smoke or vape any product on this or any Amtrak train.
In addition to the Hiawatha train service, there is a connecting bus service for communities between Milwaukee and Green Bay, WI.
Amtrak Hiawatha Basics
The Hiawatha is part of Amtrak’s Midwest Corridor and offers seven round trips between Milwaukee and Chicago. The average trip time is an hour and a half from start to end. The route has three interstate stops, including Milwaukee Airport, Sturtevant, WI, and Glenview, IL.
This train now offers bucket pricing, which can change based on occupancy. Book early to snag cheaper prices!
Coach class on the Hiawatha
The Hiawatha only has coach class
- Two by two seating
- No middle seat!
- At seat outlets
- In older cars, they are on the wall; in newer cars, they are between the seats.
- There is luggage storage above each seat and a car luggage shelf.
- Open seating
- You cannot take two seats to yourself if the train is busy.
Amtrak Hiawatha Quiet Car
The Hiawatha offers a Quiet Car for passengers who want to relax with less noise. The Quiet Car does not require special reservations and has limited seating. Some rules apply; check out the article below to see if the quiet car suits you!
Food Service
This train does not have food service.
Amtrak allows you to bring snacks and beverages aboard the train to enjoy while you ride, but adult beverages must stay in your luggage.
Luggage
If you travel between Chicago and Milwaukee or the other way around, you can use Amtrak’s checked bag service. However, this service sometimes gets suspended, so plan accordingly.
Check bag service is unavailable for those starting or ending at an intermediate stop.
Each passenger may carry on:
- One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches, and
- Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each
- If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size for that train is up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each.
Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage; check out Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.
Hiawatha add-ons
There are a few things you can add to your next Amtrak adventure.
Bikes
Space is available for standard, full-size bicycles or golf clubs; check the link for details. You must book your bike or clubs when making your reservation.
Bike storage service may be temporarily limited or unavailable on some trains.
Pets
If you want to bring a pet or service animal on an Amtrak train, read and understand the policies before booking or leaving for the station.
- Amtrak allows dogs and cats on this train.
- Pets can be up to 20 pounds with the combined weight of the pet and carrier.
- You must book your pet when making your reservation and fill out the paperwork to fill out before you board the train.
- Get the paperwork and more information from Amtrak’s pet policy page.
Service or comfort animal owners, check, read, and understand Amtrak’s service animal page before booking to see if your service critter qualifies.
Accessibility and the Hiawatha
Wheelchair Lift is available to assist passengers in boarding and detraining with a wheeled mobility device. They are available at all stations. When booking, indicate that you need assistance so conductors know that someone needs help, and so they look for you.
There are spaces on the train for people in mobility vehicles and for those who cannot walk far.
Tickets For The Amtrak Hiawatha
The Hiawatha is a reserved train, which means your ticket needs to match the scheduled time of the train you want to ride. This wasn’t always the policy; things were more flexible in the past.
If you need to make changes, you can often do so on the website or the app; depending on your ticket, there could be a fee. In some cases, you may need to call 1-800-USA-Rail. You can see a ticket agent if you are leaving from the Milwaukee Intermodal or Chicago Union Station.
The types of tickets you can get for the Hiawatha:
- One Way
- Ten Ride
- A ten-ride ticket allows you to purchase five round trips on one ticket and is valid for 90 days.
- With these tickets, you can ride any of the Hiawatha trains.
- This ticket allows one round trip per day.
- Note that these tickets are only valid for the person whose name is on that ticket.
- Round Trip
- Monthly ticket
- The monthly ticket is valid for one calendar month.
- With these tickets, you can ride any of the Hiawatha trains.
- This ticket allows one round trip per day.
- Note that these tickets are only valid for the person whose name is on that ticket.
Amtrak Hiawatha one-way fares
I have a guide for Hiawatha train ticket prices that you might find helpful. The prices depend on the train’s occupancy and can be changed by Amtrak or the Wisconsin DOT at any time without prior notice to me. Therefore, the prices you might see could be different from the ones in this guide. Know that I try to keep this as updated as I can.
| MKE | MKA | SVT | GLN | CHI | |
| Chicago (CHI) | $19 – $32 | $19 – $32 | $18 – $30 | $8 – $12 | — |
| Glenview (GLN) | $18 – $27 | $13 – $26 | $16 – $20 | — | $8 – $12 |
| Sturtevant (SVT) | $8 – $14 | $8 – $14 | — | $16 – $20 | $18 – $27 |
| Milwaukee Apt (MKA) | $6 – $10 | — | $8 – $14 | $18 – $27 | $19 – $28 |
| Milwaukee Dwtn (MKE) | — | $6 – $10 | $8 – $14 | $18 – $27 | $19 – $28 |
Amtrak Hiawatha station updates
Improvements are being made at the Milwaukee Airport (MKA) and outside Chicago Union Station that could impact your trip. If your trip involves either or both stops, please click the buttons below to get the latest information from Amtrak.
Limited access to the passenger drop-off loop and the current platform in Milwaukee could occasionally occur.
The Amtrak Hiawatha on-time performance and host railroads
Amtrak often operates its trains on tracks owned by freight and commuter railroads. These railroads may prioritize their trains, which is illegal for freight railroads. While dispatching freight trains over passenger trains is sometimes necessary for safety or in a first-come, first-served situation, it is not always justified.
- The Hiawatha’s average on-time performance per station is:
- From February 2023 to 2024, the average station on-time performance was 89.3%, with an average delay of 34 minutes.
- February 2024 saw an average performance of 93% with a wait time of 30 minutes.
The top two reasons these host railroads delayed the Hiawatha
- CPKC (53 miles) delays included freight train interference and slow orders.
- Metra (29 miles) delays included slow orders and commuter train interference.
The information in this section comes from the February 2024 Amtrak Host Railroad Report.
Amtrak Hiawatha Schedule/Timetable
In most cases, the route averages an hour and a half from end to end; 339 is an hour and thirty-seven minutes. These schedules come from the official Hiawatha page. Amtrak, Wisconsin DOT, or the Illinois DOT can change these schedules anytime.
The times listed below are departure times.
Amtrak Hiawatha Schedule Southbound Trains
*All trains are daily, but train 330 does not run on Sunday!
| Stations | Miles | 330 * | 332 | 334 | 336 | 338 | 340 | 342 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI (MKE) | 0 | 6:15a | 8:05a | 11:00a | 1:05p | 3:00p | 5:45p | 7:35p |
| Milwaukee Airport (MKA) | 8 | 6:26a | 8:14a | 11:09a | 1:14p | 3:09p | 5:54p | 7:44p |
| Sturtevant, WI (SVT) | 23 | 6:43a | 8:27a | 11:23a | 1:27p | 3:22p | 6:07p | 7:57p |
| Glenview, IL (GLN) | 68 | 7:25a | 9:05a | 12:00p | 2:05p | 4:00p | 6:45p | 8:35p |
| Chicago, IL (CHI) | 86 | 7:57a | 9:34a | 12:29p | 2:34p | 4:29p | 7:14p | 9:04p |
Amtrak Hiawatha Schedule Northbound Trains
*All trains are daily, but train 329 does not run on Sunday! **Friday Only
+Take note that “train” 8307 is a late-night bus with no intermediate stops.
| Stations | Miles | 329* | 331 | 333 | 335 | 337 | 339 | 341 | 8307+ | 343** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL (CHI) | 0 | 6:10a | 8:25a | 11:05a | 1:05p | 3:15p | 5:08p | 8:05p | 9:15p | 11:25p |
| Glenview, IL (GLN) | 18 | 6:32a | 8:46a | 11:26a | 1:26p | 3:36p | 5:31p | 8:26p | – | 11:46 |
| Sturtevant, WI (SVT) | 63 | 7:10a | 9:24a | 12:04p | 2:04p | 4:14p | 6:13p | 9:04p | – | 12:24a |
| Milwaukee Airport (MKA) | 78 | 7:23a | 9:38a | 12:18p | 2:18p | 4:28p | 6:27p | 9:18p | – | 12:38a |
| Milwaukee, WI (MKE) | 86 | 7:39a | 9:54a | 12:34p | 2:34p | 4:44p | 6:45p | 9:34p | 11:05p | 12:54a |
Printable Amtrak Hiawatha Schedule/Timetable
If you are connecting with another train or service, you could benefit from printing a custom Amtrak schedule.
Amtrak’s I-41 Connecting Service Schedule
The Hiawatha has a connecting bus service, an Amtrak-branded bus that only services these Amtrak stops. Lamers run buses 7333 and 7338, which connect to Amtrak trains but are not Amtrak-branded charter buses.
