You just landed at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE). You’re tired. You want cheese curds, or maybe you're just trying to get to a meeting in Brookfield without losing your mind. If you booked a hertz car rental milwaukee airport, you’re probably expecting a seamless handoff where you grab the keys and disappear into the Wisconsin mist.
But things are rarely that simple.
Milwaukee’s airport is unique. It’s not O’Hare—thank God—but it has its own quirks that can trip up even the most seasoned business traveler. Hertz is a massive player here, and while the Gold Plus Rewards program usually makes things feel like a breeze, the physical layout of MKE can be a bit of a labyrinth if you aren’t paying attention. Honestly, most people just follow the signs and hope for the best, but that’s how you end up standing in a forty-minute line behind a family of six who just realized they didn't bring a car seat.
The Reality of the Hertz Lot at MKE
Let’s talk logistics. Unlike some massive hubs where you have to take a three-mile shuttle ride just to see a car, the Hertz car rental Milwaukee airport setup is relatively integrated. You’re looking at a parking garage structure that’s connected to the terminal. It’s convenient, mostly. You walk across the skywalk from the terminal to the multi-modal station.
Here is the thing about MKE: it gets cold. Like, painfully cold.
If you are visiting between November and April, that walk across the skywalk is your last moment of climate-controlled bliss. The Hertz garage area is covered, sure, but it’s open-air. Wind whips through there. If you’re a Gold member, you might think you can just walk straight to your car, but sometimes the board isn't updated, or the "Ultimate Choice" section is looking a bit thin because a flight from Atlanta just dumped a hundred people into the lobby.
Hertz operates out of the Ground Transportation Center. You’ll find the counter there, but if you’ve done the digital check-in, you can often bypass the desk entirely. This is the "secret sauce" of renting in Milwaukee. If you have the app and your profile is updated, just look for your name on the electronic board. It saves you from that awkward "would you like the optional insurance?" dance that counter agents are basically required by law to perform.
Why the Vehicle Selection Varies So Much
I’ve seen people complain that the selection at the Milwaukee Hertz lot is "boring." Well, yeah. It’s the Midwest. You’re going to see a lot of Chevrolet Malibus, Ford Explorers, and maybe a stray Nissan Rogue. If you’re looking for a convertible to cruise down Lincoln Memorial Drive, you’re probably out of luck unless it’s the peak of July, and even then, it’s a gamble.
The fleet at MKE is built for utility. Most people renting here are either visiting family in the suburbs or heading to a corporate office in Menomonee Falls. Consequently, the "Ultimate Choice" area—where you pick any car in your assigned zone—is heavy on mid-sized SUVs.
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Interestingly, I've noticed that Hertz tends to rotate their newer inventory through Milwaukee during the summer months to accommodate the festival crowd. Summerfest is a monster. If you’re renting during those two weeks in late June and early July, the airport is a zoo. The prices for a hertz car rental milwaukee airport can triple during Summerfest. I’m not exaggerating. If you don't book months in advance, you might end up paying $150 a day for a compact car that smells faintly of old french fries.
Navigating the Return: Don't Trust Your GPS Blindly
Returning a car at MKE is usually straightforward, but the signage as you approach the airport can be a little confusing if you’re coming from the south. The airport is located at 5300 S Howell Ave. If you’re flying up I-94, the exit for the airport is well-marked, but once you get onto the airport grounds, you need to stay in the lanes marked for "Rental Car Return."
I’ve seen people accidentally end up in the hourly parking lane. Don't do that. It’s a nightmare to loop back around during rush hour.
Hertz shares the return area with several other major brands. When you pull in, there’s usually an attendant with a handheld scanner. If there isn’t—which happens late at night—just make sure you note your mileage and fuel level. Take a photo. Seriously. I once had a dispute over a "missing" quarter tank of gas at a Midwest airport, and having a timestamped photo of the dashboard saved me $40 in "convenience" fees.
The walk back to the terminal from the Hertz return area is about five to seven minutes. It’s all via skywalks. If you have a lot of luggage, grab one of the SmarteCartes near the return entrance. It’s worth the five bucks.
The Gold Plus Rewards Factor
If you aren't in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program, you’re doing it wrong. It’s free. It’s not some exclusive club for people who spend $50k a year on travel. It basically just means you don't have to wait in the "regular" line.
At the Milwaukee airport, the Gold desk is usually staffed during peak hours, but the real benefit is the "skip the counter" feature. You get an email when your plane lands telling you exactly which stall your car is in. You walk to the stall, get in, and show your ID at the exit gate.
Sometimes, the gate at MKE can be a bottleneck. There’s usually only one person working the exit booth. If three or four cars are trying to leave at once, expect a five-minute wait. It’s a small price to pay for not having to stand at a counter for twenty minutes while someone tries to upsell you on a SiriusXM subscription.
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Hidden Fees and Wisconsin Taxes
Renting a car at any airport is more expensive than renting from a neighborhood location because of the "concession recovery fees." At MKE, these are significant. You’re looking at:
- An airport concession fee (usually around 11%).
- A customer facility charge (CFC) which is a flat daily rate.
- State and local taxes.
Basically, if the base rate is $40 a day, expect the final bill to be closer to $65. This isn’t a Hertz thing; it’s a Milwaukee thing. If you’re on a tight budget and staying for a week, it is sometimes actually cheaper to take an Uber to a Hertz local edition in West Allis or Wauwatosa and rent from there, though you’ll lose an hour of your life doing it.
Winter Driving in Milwaukee
If you’re renting a hertz car rental milwaukee airport in January, you need to check your tires. I’ve seen cars in the Hertz lot with "all-season" tires that were practically bald. In Milwaukee, that’s a recipe for ending up in a ditch on I-43.
Before you drive out of the garage:
- Check the tread depth.
- Make sure there is an ice scraper in the car. (Hertz usually includes one, but check.)
- Check the windshield washer fluid. The salt spray on Wisconsin roads will blind you in five minutes if you can't spray your windows.
If the car is covered in a layer of frost even inside the garage, let it warm up for a few minutes. The garage isn't heated.
Dealing with Issues
What happens if your car is a dud? It happens. Hertz is a massive machine, and sometimes a car with a weird transmission shimmy slips through the cracks.
In Milwaukee, the staff is generally "Wisconsin nice." If you have a problem with the car, don't just drive away. Go back to the Gold desk or the main counter immediately. Usually, they’ll swap you into something else without much fuss, provided they have the inventory. If you wait until you’re in Kohler or Madison to complain, they’ll tell you to find a local Hertz branch, which is a much bigger headache.
What about the "Prepaid Fuel" Option?
Honestly, just say no. Unless you are running so late for your flight that you plan on ghost-riding the car into the return lane while the plane is boarding, it’s a rip-off. There are several gas stations within a mile of MKE. There’s a BP and a Shell right on Howell Ave. Just fill up there. You’ll save $2 to $3 per gallon compared to the "convenience" rate Hertz charges.
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Practical Steps for a Smooth MKE Rental
To make your experience at the Hertz Milwaukee airport location as painless as possible, follow this sequence.
First, sign up for Gold Plus Rewards at least 48 hours before your trip. Link your credit card and your driver's license. This ensures your profile is "active" and you can bypass the counter.
Second, download the Hertz app. It sounds like a chore, but the "Find My Car" feature is actually helpful in the MKE garage, which can feel a bit dark and repetitive.
Third, when you land, don't rush to the garage if you have checked bags. The MKE baggage claim is notoriously slow. You’ll have plenty of time to check your app and see your car assignment while you’re waiting for your suitcase to appear on the carousel.
Fourth, once you get to the car, do a 360-degree walkaround with your phone's camera. Record a video. Catch the wheels, the bumpers, and the windshield. It takes thirty seconds and is the ultimate insurance policy against a "damage" claim that wasn't your fault.
Finally, check the "Ultimate Choice" signs. Even if you have a specific stall assigned, sometimes you can grab something better in the Gold or Five Star zones if you're a member. Milwaukee often has some decent SUVs in the Five Star section that are a step up from the standard sedan.
Avoid the temptation to take the first car you see. Walk the row. Look for lower mileage. In a fleet like Hertz's, you might see one car with 12,000 miles and another with 48,000. Take the newer one. Your back will thank you on the drive to Green Bay.
When you exit the garage, have your ID ready. The gate agents at MKE are usually pretty quick, but they won't let you through until they've scanned your paperwork and your license. Once you’re out, follow the signs for I-94 or I-43, and you’re on your way.
The key is preparation. Milwaukee Mitchell is a manageable airport, and Hertz is a reliable enough partner there, provided you know how to navigate the system and don't expect a Ferrari in the middle of a Wisconsin winter. Keep your expectations realistic, use the technology available to you, and always—always—check the washer fluid before you leave the lot.