If you are an intermodal traveler going through Southeast Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Intermodal Station is an important place to get familiarized with how it can serve you. This page covers Amtrak’s use of the station but also covers bus services and how to get to four airports from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
Why Consider The Milwaukee Intermodal Station?
This station offers rail and bus service with connections to over four airports.
Amtrak can take you to Chicago, where you can connect with the long-distance network and the Midwest corridor. Or you can travel west from this station as far as Portland, OR, or Seattle, WA.
Amtrak uses this station to connect passengers with connecting and thruway service.
Several bus companies operate from this station, making it an easy transfer point between different bus companies and Amtrak.
If you have a layover at this station, you can get around the city by walking, public transport, or taxi and rideshares to explore or grab food or drink.
A Little History About This Station
The Milwaukee Road Railroad built this station in the 1960s. During that time, the station served passengers for the Milwaukee Road, Chicago & Northwestern railroads and had office space.
This station was known as Milwaukee Union Station from 1965-2007, and in 2007 it was renamed the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
Later, Wisconsin DOT acquired the building, and Amtrak and bus lines started using the station, creating a surface travel hub in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Intermodal Station Today
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation modernized the station in 2007, giving the building an updated look.
Later, in 2016, the train shed received much-needed updates to improve the passenger experience.
With these updates, the Milwaukee Intermodal Station is ready for future rail expansion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Midwest.
Where To Find The Milwaukee Intermodal Station
The Milwaukee Intermodal Station is located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.
Address:
433 St. Paul Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53103
Milwaukee Intermodal Station Facts
- Amtrak Station Code: MKE
- Annual station ticket revenue FY 2022: $11,064,791*
- Annual station ridership FY 2022: 379,535*
- WDOT owns the platform, station, and parking lot (managed by an outside vendor)
- The Soo Line/Canadian Pacific Railroad owns and maintains the tracks.
Trains At The Milwaukee Intermodal Station
The Milwaukee Intermodal Station currently hosts two Amtrak train routes and an Amtrak connecting service, with more services in the works.
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a daily Amtrak long-distance route between Chicago and Seattle/Portland. The train’s southern endpoint is Chicago Union Station.
The train offers coach and sleeper car accommodations.
Note: you cannot purchase Empire Builder tickets between Milwaukee and Chicago. If you need to connect between these cities, use the Hiawatha.
Hiawatha
Amtrak’s Hiawatha is a regional train funded by the WDOT and IDOT.
The Hiawatha operates seven round-trip trains daily, Monday through Saturday, and six on Sundays.
Coach class is the only accommodation on the Hiawatha.
Amtrak Connecting & Thruway Services
Amtrak offers destinations beyond the rails with Amtrak Connecting and Thruway Service.
This service could include a bus chartered by Amtrak, known as a connecting service.
With Amtrak’s Thruway bus service, your reservation works on another company’s transportation, like a bus.
You may need a train ride when booking a trip with a bus connection through Amtrak.
Checked bag service is not available with bus transfer, so plan accordingly,
Amtrak Thruway I-41 Bus Service
This could become a train service in a few years.
| Green Bay, WI (GBY) | Transportation Center, 901 University Avenue |
| De Pere, WI (DPE) | Park & Ride – 100 Lawrence Drive |
| Appleton, WI (APP) | Transit Center – 100 East Washington Street. Motor Coach loads on Oneida Street. |
| Oshkosh, WI – UW (OSU) | Gruenhagen Conference Center – 208 Osceola Street |
| Fond du Lac, WI (FDL) | Radisson Hotel and Conference Center – 625 West Rolling Meadows Drive |
| Milwaukee, WI – Amtrak (MKE) | 433 West St. Paul. Bay #7 |
| Milwaukee, WI – Airport (MKB) | Motor Coach loads outside Baggage Claim Door #1. Walk across lanes to the median/island. Look for signs. |
Amtrak Services At Milwaukee Intermodal Station
This station offers ticket agents for booking services and staff to help with train boarding.
Baggage Services
Checked bag service is available if your final destination offers baggage services. Otherwise, Amtrak has a generous carry-on policy. You can also store bags (at the time of publishing), often around $10.
Bike and shipping boxes are available for purchase, along with ski bags.
Connecting To Airports From The Milwaukee Intermodal Station
This station can connect you to several airports!
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
There are several ways to connect to Mitchell from this station.
By Train
Amtrak’s Hiawatha stops at the airport station (MKA) seven times daily. If you take the train, a shuttle will take you from the train station to the airport and back.
Buy Bus
Amtrak connecting bus service also has stops at this station (MKB).
The 80 MCTS bus also can take you there with a stop near the station. Coach USA bus service leaves the station and can also take you to the airport.
There are also taxis and rideshare options too.
Chicago O’Hare
The easiest way to get to O’Hare from this station is the Coach USA Bus Line. The bus drops off and picks you up at the airport’s transportation center.
The other option is to take Amtrak or a bus service to Chicago and then take the CTA Blue Line north, which terminates at the airport.
Chicago Midway
Take Amtrak or a bus to Chicago and walk to the CTA Orange Line from the Loop to the airport, which terminates there.
Southbend International Airport
Take Amtrak or a bus to Chicago and do a self-trainer to Millennium Station to catch the Southshore Line, which will take you to the airport.
Bus Services At The Milwaukee Intermodal Station
Greyhound staffs the bus side of the station on the Westside of the lobby. The ticket office is open from 5:30 am – 9:00 pm. If you need in-person help, call or check the Greyhound website to ensure service is there, times can change.
All buses load outside the West end doors. The city bus stop is close to the station with access to the Blue Line, 12, 31, 34, 57, and 80.
| Coach USA – Wisconsin Coach Line | Greyhound |
| Jefferson Lines | Indian Trails |
| Lamers | Badger Bus |
| MCTS | Megabus |
Station Amenities For All Passengers
The station’s passenger area is divided into three areas, the far east side is Amtrak the West side serves the buses. The station does have Wi-Fi, but not from Amtrak. Public bathrooms are available on the station’s west side before the Greyhound ticket desk.
Food In The Station
There are vending machines with food and drink to grab something while you wait or grab something to go. At the time of publishing, the coffee shop/cafe closed.
Transportation
Paid parking is available just west of the station. Taxies are also available outside the station, along with a drop-off area.
Public transportation, both bus and streetcar stops, are within reasonable walking distance.
Food & Coffee Nearby
There are other food and coffee places available within blocks of the station, but these are my favorite and within walking distance for most.
One of my favorite coffee shops is half a block North of the station, Stone Creek Coffee’s Factory Cafe, with brewed coffee, espresso drinks, food, and accessories.
A variety of shops and food is .4 miles east of the Milwaukee Public Market. The Market offers a diversity of food vendors, coffee, and more, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Wrap-up
If your next Amtrak adventure starts or ends at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, be prepared to leave the station for fresh food.
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* Information from The Great American Station
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