I live in Wisconsin but am taking a flight from Chicago O’Hare to Tokyo this weekend. Getting to O’Hare from Milwaukee is an inconvenient puzzle.
- Driving is fine but O’Hare daily parking is expensive ($10/day for Economy G but you have to take a bus then the tram. $17/day for Economy E if you want to hop the tram. Tram is super easy and the bus from G is accessible, but still it’s pricey for a week!
- Wisconsin Coach has a bus but it takes over 2 hours and you have to pre-arrange an accessible bus. If your flight is delayed on the way home, you might be stuck without a return trip if the accessible bus leaves. Costs $32 each way.
- Uber has accessible rides FROM O’Hare to Milwaukee (around $120-150) but not to O’Hare from Milwaukee.
- Amtrak ($25 one way to Chicago) has Hiawatha trains from downtown Milwaukee to Glenview or Union Station, but you’ll have to hop an accessible Uber, CTA train (station change) or Metra (with connection) to get to O’Hare.
- There is a Hilton right at the airport, which can be a life saver if you get in late. Then you can check in and worry about getting home the next day. I’ve planned on doing this twice but then decide to take an Uber late and sleep in my own bed. Don’t rely on accessible Ubers, however. I’ve been lucky twice with this plan but I’m sure one of these times no accessible Uber will be available.
The only perfect solution is to have someone drive me in my own van, but ain’t nobody want to drive 3+ hours round trip TWICE to pick my ass up, so forget it. I don’t even like driving myself down there!
This time around I am trying the Amtrak / CTA route since the weather will be ok. I will probably go down there the day before and get a last minute hotel deal. This will take the pressure off on Saturday when my flight is.
You Should Go Anyway 