Getting around · Appleton
Getting to and from ATW: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Appleton airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a metered taxi gets you to Downtown Appleton, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Cell Phone Lot. Below: every way to and from the airport, what it costs, whether to park or grab a ride, and how to fold the drive into your Leave-By Time so you reach security with room to get through the line. Check ATW TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoint
- 1
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
- No
- Global Entry
- Off site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from ATW — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
Metered
to Downtown Appleton
Drive time
15–22 min
9 mi to Downtown Appleton
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Fares to Downtown Appleton are on the meter, so the total depends on traffic and your exact address.
Curbside outside the terminal; cabs are not always staged, so call ahead. Local cabs include Pronto Cab (920) 858-2127 and Double A Cab (920) 378-7189; fares are metered with no published flat rate to downtown.
The ATW cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Lot. At 6390 W Challenger Dr in Greenville, a short distance from the terminal near the airport entrance; free to use. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Wait in the free cell phone lot near the airport entrance and pull up to the terminal curb once your passenger calls.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare ATWparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at ATW
Uber and Lyft use designated pickup and drop-off areas just outside the terminal, requested through their apps.
Dropping off? Rideshare and taxis drop off at the terminal curb; use the free cell phone lot when meeting arriving passengers. Appletonhas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to ATW — routes & drive time
ATW sits about 9 miles from Downtown Appleton, a drive of roughly 15–22 minutes via WIS-96 (Wisconsin Ave) and US-41/I-41 via Challenger Drive — closer to the high end at rush hour. That drive time is the first input into your Leave-By Time, so the calculator counts it backward from your flight along with today's security wait and the walk to your gate.
Getting to ATW by train or transit
No rail serves ATW and Valley Transit does not stop at the terminal; the nearest bus stop is a short distance away, so transit is impractical for most travelers.
Fare: Adult regular fare $2.75 via WisGo card or app; exact cash also accepted.
Hotel and city shuttles to ATW
Several area hotels offer airport shuttles and park-and-fly packages; there is no scheduled public shuttle from the terminal to downtown. If a shuttle is part of your plan, add its ride time to your Leave-By Time — it's easy to forget the 15–20 minutes between the curb and the terminal.
Park or ride to ATW?
The rule of thumb: a round-trip ride is one fixed cost, while parking adds up by the day. For a quick 1–2 day trip, parking usually costs less; for a longer trip, a round-trip taxi or rideshare often comes out ahead.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare ATWparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at ATW
Accessible parking sits near the terminal and Valley Transit buses are lift-equipped, though they do not directly serve the airport.
Late or overnight arrival? Valley Transit ends around 10pm with no Sunday or holiday service, so Uber, Lyft, or a pre-arranged taxi are the late-night options.
Returning a rental on the way out? On-airport counters (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Alamo) with returns at the airport lot. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Recently changed: Valley Transit fares and routes and local cab numbers can change; verify before travel. Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified ATW's ground-transport details as of July 1, 2026. Always check the in-app pickup pin and posted signs when you land.
Flying out of a nearby airport instead?
If a fare or a schedule points you elsewhere, the closest airport we cover is MSN (Madison), about 88 miles from ATW in a straight line. The same math on this page — drive time, ride cost, security wait — decides whether the extra distance is worth it.
Other airports nearby
Straight-line distance from ATW — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go ATW
ATW TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ ATW
How much is a taxi to or from ATW?
Taxis to Downtown Appleton are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and the exact address. Curbside outside the terminal; cabs are not always staged, so call ahead.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at ATW?
Uber and Lyft use designated pickup and drop-off areas just outside the terminal, requested through their apps. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the ATW cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Lot — At 6390 W Challenger Dr in Greenville, a short distance from the terminal near the airport entrance; free to use. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is ATW from Downtown Appleton?
ATW is about 9 miles from Downtown Appleton — roughly 15–22 minutes by car depending on traffic, via WIS-96 (Wisconsin Ave) and US-41/I-41 via Challenger Drive.
Is there a train from ATW to Downtown Appleton?
Not directly. No rail serves ATW and Valley Transit does not stop at the terminal; the nearest bus stop is a short distance away, so transit is impractical for most travelers.