Wisconsin operates 8 commercial service airports serving over 6.3 million passengers annually. From Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE) to regional hubs in Madison, Green Bay, and Appleton, Wisconsin's airports provide convenient access to major destinations nationwide.
📍 Milwaukee | 5300 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Wisconsin's busiest airport serving over 6.3 million passengers in 2024, representing a 5% increase from 2023. MKE is the primary airport for southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
📍 Madison | 4000 International Ln, Madison, WI 53704
Wisconsin's second-busiest airport located in the state capital. MSN served 970,816 passengers in 2021 and recently completed an $85 million terminal expansion adding three gates.
📍 Greenville | W6390 Challenger Dr, Appleton, WI 54914
Hit 1 million passengers milestone in 2024 for the first time. Completed a $66 million terminal expansion in 2025, nearly doubling terminal size with six new gates.
📍 Green Bay | 2077 Airport Dr, Green Bay, WI 54313
Known as "The Gateway to Lambeau Field," serving Green Bay Packers fans and northeastern Wisconsin. Operating at near capacity with 46,964 aircraft operations in 2023.
| Airport Name | Code | Location | Passengers (2024) | Classification | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Mitchell International | MKE | Milwaukee | 6,316,245 | Large Hub | 9 |
| Dane County Regional | MSN | Madison | 970,816 | Small Hub | 5 |
| Appleton International | ATW | Appleton/Greenville | 1,000,000+ | Small Hub | 4 |
| Green Bay Austin Straubel Intl | GRB | Green Bay | 314,909 | Non-hub Primary | 5 |
| Central Wisconsin Airport | CWA | Mosinee/Wausau | 124,632 | Non-hub Primary | 3 |
| La Crosse Regional Airport | LSE | La Crosse | 99,651 | Non-hub Primary | 2 |
| Chippewa Valley Regional | EAU | Eau Claire | 23,950 | Non-hub Primary | 2 |
| Rhinelander-Oneida County | RHI | Rhinelander | 24,477 | Non-hub Primary | 2 |
International: Cancún, Punta Cana, Montego Bay (seasonal)
All 8 Wisconsin commercial airports offer TSA PreCheck screening. Enrollment centers are available at select locations, and temporary enrollment events are held periodically.
| Airport Name | Code | TSA PreCheck Available | Terminals/Checkpoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Mitchell International | MKE | Yes | Concourse C, D, E + CLEAR enrollment center |
| Dane County Regional | MSN | Yes | Main Checkpoint, Alpha Terminal |
| Appleton International | ATW | Yes | Main Checkpoint (enrollment in conference room) |
| Green Bay Austin Straubel | GRB | Yes | Concourse A, Concourse B |
| Central Wisconsin | CWA | Yes | Main Checkpoint |
| La Crosse Regional | LSE | Yes | Gate Area |
| Chippewa Valley Regional | EAU | Yes | Main Checkpoint |
| Rhinelander-Oneida County | RHI | Yes | Main Terminal |
Wisconsin operates 98 public-use airports in addition to its 8 commercial service airports. Here are key regional facilities:
Location: 3 miles southeast of Mosinee in Marathon County
Serves: Wausau, Stevens Point, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids
Airlines: American (Chicago O'Hare), Delta (Minneapolis), United
Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, full-service restaurant/bar, business center, gift shop, EV charging stations
Parking: First 3 hours free in short-term lot, then $1/hour ($10 max). Long-term: $8/day. Credit/debit only.
Contact: 715-693-2147
Location: 5 miles northwest of La Crosse along the Mississippi River
Classification: Medium-sized multi-use airport with three intersecting runways
Airlines: American Airlines (connections through Chicago O'Hare)
Operations: 18,143 aircraft operations annually (50/day average)
Based Aircraft: 63 (49 single-engine, 5 multi-engine, 8 jets, 1 glider)
Ground Transportation: Taxis, Uber/Lyft, rental cars in terminal near baggage claim
Historical Note: President Bill Clinton flew to La Crosse in 1998 on Air Force One (the plane's last presidential flight)
Contact: 2850 Airport Road, La Crosse, WI 54603 | Office hours: M-F 8am-4:30pm
Location: 3800 Starr Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54703 (3 miles north of downtown)
Size: 1,100 acres with two runways (8,101 ft primary, 5,000 ft crosswind)
Service Area: Largest airport in northwestern Wisconsin
Airlines: United Express (Chicago O'Hare via SkyWest), Sun Country (seasonal Florida)
Operations: 18,897 aircraft operations annually (52/day)
Based Aircraft: 91 (63 single-engine, 10 multi-engine, 15 jets, 2 helicopters, 1 military)
Amenities: Full-service FBO, rental cars, conference facilities, no hassle or long waits
Public Transit: Eau Claire Transit Route 3 connects airport to downtown on weekdays
Location: 2 miles southwest of Rhinelander in Oneida County
Unique Status: Only commercial airport in Wisconsin without on-field air traffic control
Classification: Non-hub primary commercial service (7th busiest of 8 commercial airports)
Essential Air Service: Receives $2,560,031 annually in federal subsidies
Airlines: Delta Connection operating 50-seat Bombardier CRJ550 jets (CRJ900 seasonal to Minneapolis)
Subsidy Period: Through January 31, 2026
Ownership: City and county operated
Primary Use: General aviation with commercial airline service
Total Network: Wisconsin operates 8 commercial airports and 98 public-use general aviation airports supported by Wisconsin DOT Bureau of Aeronautics.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is Wisconsin's largest and busiest airport. In 2024, MKE served 6,316,245 passengers, representing a 5% increase from 2023. The airport offers nonstop service to 58 destinations through 9 airlines, with Southwest Airlines being the largest carrier operating 19 different routes. MKE is located at 5300 S Howell Ave in Milwaukee and serves southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Wisconsin has 8 commercial service airports: Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE), Dane County Regional in Madison (MSN), Appleton International (ATW), Green Bay Austin Straubel International (GRB), Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee (CWA), La Crosse Regional (LSE), Chippewa Valley Regional in Eau Claire (EAU), and Rhinelander-Oneida County (RHI). In addition to these commercial airports, Wisconsin operates 98 public-use general aviation airports supported by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Bureau of Aeronautics.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is currently the only Wisconsin airport with regularly scheduled international flights. MKE offers seasonal service to Cancún, Mexico (Southwest and Sun Country Airlines), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (Sun Country), and Montego Bay, Jamaica (Sun Country). These routes typically operate from December through April. Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison announced in February 2025 that it will formally apply for international airport status, which would allow it to offer international flights in the future.
Major airlines serving Wisconsin include Southwest Airlines (the largest carrier at MKE with 19 destinations), American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and Allegiant Air. Southwest, American, and Sun Country operate the most flights from Milwaukee. Most Wisconsin airports offer connections through major hubs including Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Detroit. Regional carriers like SkyWest Airlines (operating as United Express) serve smaller Wisconsin airports.
Yes, TSA PreCheck screening is available at all 8 commercial airports in Wisconsin. Milwaukee Mitchell International offers PreCheck at Concourses C, D, and E, and also has a CLEAR enrollment center. Appleton International has an enrollment location in the Airport Conference Room (near baggage claim) with a $78 fee. Dane County Regional, Green Bay Austin Straubel, Central Wisconsin, La Crosse Regional, Chippewa Valley Regional, and Rhinelander-Oneida County all offer TSA PreCheck at their security checkpoints. Temporary enrollment events are periodically held at various airports.
Parking costs vary by airport. Milwaukee Mitchell International charges $2/hour for hourly parking (first 30 minutes free, $24 daily max), $15/day for daily garage parking, $8/day for Saver/Rail lots, and $27/day for valet. Dane County Regional Airport charges approximately $10/day. Central Wisconsin Airport offers the first 3 hours free in short-term parking, then $1/hour with a $10 daily maximum, and long-term parking at $8/day. Note that Central Wisconsin Airport accepts credit/debit cards only for parking payment. Most airports also offer off-site parking options at nearby hotels for as low as $5-$7 per day with shuttle service.
Appleton International Airport (ATW) is Wisconsin's fastest-growing commercial airport. In 2024, ATW hit the 1 million passenger milestone for the first time in its history and has now surpassed Green Bay in annual passenger numbers to become Wisconsin's third-busiest airport. The airport completed a major $66 million terminal expansion in spring 2025 that nearly doubled the terminal size, adding six new gates while eliminating three existing gates. Airlines including Allegiant have announced new routes, such as nonstop service to Santa Ana, California starting May 2026. Milwaukee Mitchell International also showed strong growth with a 5% passenger increase in 2024.
All Wisconsin commercial airports offer multiple ground transportation options. Car rental services are available at all 8 commercial airports, with consolidated rental facilities at larger airports like Milwaukee and Appleton. Ride-sharing services (Uber and Lyft) operate at all commercial airports with designated pickup zones. Traditional taxi service is available via dedicated taxi lanes, particularly at Milwaukee Mitchell International outside Baggage Claim 3. Many area hotels provide courtesy shuttle service. Public transit options include Madison Metro Bus Route D(2) to Dane County Regional Airport and Eau Claire Transit Route 3 to Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. Milwaukee offers shuttle operators providing door-to-door service throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Yes, Wisconsin airports offer extensive nonstop service to major destinations. Milwaukee Mitchell International provides direct flights to 58 airports including Chicago O'Hare (402 monthly flights), Denver (136 flights), Atlanta (124 flights), Minneapolis (114 flights), Phoenix (104 flights), and Detroit (91 flights). In 2025, Southwest Airlines added daily nonstop service to Austin, Texas, and Spirit Airlines launched new routes to Los Angeles and Detroit. Dane County Regional Airport in Madison offers direct flights to major cities including Minneapolis, Miami, and Las Vegas through five carriers. Central Wisconsin Airport provides daily nonstop service to Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Smaller Wisconsin airports primarily connect through major hubs like Chicago O'Hare and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Wisconsin airports offer comprehensive amenities. Milwaukee Mitchell International features coffee shops, restaurants, food courts, retail stores, a used-books store, banking facilities with ATMs, conference rooms, family care rooms, free Wi-Fi, and accessibility features including TDD phones for the hearing impaired. Central Wisconsin Airport offers free Wi-Fi, a full-service restaurant and bar, gift shop, business center, charging stations, and electric vehicle charging stations. Green Bay Austin Straubel has ATMs, banking facilities, paging service, photo kiosks, wireless internet throughout the terminal, and a business center. Dane County Regional Airport provides ample parking, a comprehensive car rental center, and various ground transportation options. All commercial airports are disability-accessible with convenient parking spots and accessible restrooms.
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Last updated on November 29, 2025