Traveling to Airventure

Well, the very best way is to have someone with some open seats fly you up there from Waukegan, Palwaukee, etc. 

However, failing that, it's a fairly easy drive from O'Hare (ummm, we do drive on the right, BTW).  Just be sure to reserve a car fairly early - even though Oshkosh is far enough away from the Chicago markets where car rentals aren't completely swamped, you won't be the only one doing it that way.

There may be some options via bus, but, depending on where you're staying, you may want the flexibility of having wheels at Oshkosh.

Thanks Bob, drive we shall & good advice you give getting a car ordered early. Yes, we have to be on our witts while driving there...the other side.

Rgrds

It's a pretty straightforward drive up from Chicago, about 3 hours.

You may already know about it and decided to make your own plans, but probably worth checking whether you know that there's an Air New Zealand  Boeing 747 coming direct into Oshkosh... look in the news section on www.airventure.org for details of "The Oshkosh Express". 

However you get here, you are guaranteed a great experience.  Anything you want to know in advance, ask away!

 Thanks Ken, no I didn't know and my brother inlaw is a training Capt with ANZ and he didn't either!

We'll check it out.

Rgds, John A.

While riding the city bus downtown to Roxy's restaurant for dinner last AirVenture, I was talking with another passenger who happened to be from NZ. He and his group were staying in the University dorms. He is building a Bush Caddy. I mentioned my EAA chapter pres, back in Utah, Rick Pewtress, is also a Caddy builer. Turns out these 2 guys corresponded regularly. Small world.

I didn't catch how the NZ'ers got to OSH but they didn't have a car as they were riding the city bus back and forth from the dorms to show everyday.

See you there.

Kiwis are very inovative when it comes to money and every $US we spend costs us $NZ1.40 so if there's a cheap way we'll find it!

Another option I've used when flying commercial is to go into Appleton, WI.  Starting the day before AirVenture there is a shuttle bus service that'll take you right to the entrance gate at Oshkosh.  Works great for me since I camp right on the field and don't need a car anyway.

The airfare is probably higher than going into Chicago, but I'm not paying for a rental car that would just sit in the parking lot all week.

Don't know what your plans are as far as housing?

Camping or university dorm or motel.  Make reservations now if you can. Several houses up there take in boarders.

But I would rent a car to get from O'hare to Oshkosh.

 I guess I am too much of a control freak to leave my destiny to a bus or a taxi.

Especially when thousands of others will all be trying to do the same thing at the same time.

Have a great time!!

Rich

Thanks Rich, yes we have our bed booked at a campus, and driving up We were there in 98 and blown away by the size and number of people. I remember it being the greatest show on earth tho for a aviator

John,

I live in West Bend, which is on the way from Chicago to Oshkosh and I work in the Milwaukee area. If you run into any problems, you can give me a call.

I can PM you my cell phone.

Jeff

Hi Jeff, thank you kindly for your offer. janderson412@hotmail.com

I'll text you and would love to meet at the show.

K/rgds, John

I spent several weeks in Egypt a few years ago as a consultant.  I was advised to not drive because of the way they looked at foreign drivers, however, after getting there and being driven around I was grateful I was not driving.  Getting used to driving on the wrong side is challenging to say the least, learning to drive on the wrong side in Chicago traffic sounds more like a death wish to me!  I will go to my grave remembering a very exciteing ride through Heathrow airport sitting in the front seat on the wrong side (left front corner) of a flat nosed bus.  I died a 1000 times as we missed cars, pillars, and other obstacles by what seemed inches!  

Larry

Try driving in the Caymans with a U.S. (e.g. left-hand steering wheel) Toyota on two lane roads with the International Harvester dump trucks hauling limestone going the other way, ALSO set up with left-handed steering ("Honey, how are we doing over on your side of the car?")

Anyway, the interstates (equivilant of the Queen's Highway) shouldn't be too bad.  It's the four and two lane road that you have to watch!  And the traffic that will hit you is coming from the LEFT, not the right, at an intersection or crosswalk.

BTW, John, love to meet you once you get up to Oshkosh.  Drop me a line at sus_pilot@hotmail.com

Yes, having spent time working in the ME (LHD country) I know what you mean. I used to think Kiwi's were poor drivers but they nothing on the folk in that part of the world!

John, try finding somebody from Chicago coming to the show willing to split gas. I am sure a few people would know someone.

Put a title on the airventure section "anyone going to Airventure from Chicago area????"

Just a thought.

Good thing you managed to get a room at the University dorms as when I tried to book the other day I was told they are tearing down 3 dorms, meaning they now have a wait list with approximately 180 on the list now. They will be out 600 beds. Another option is Ripon College http://www.ripon.edu/ - if necessary.

Regards,

Roderick