Facility Overview
The Blue Lot at Appleton International Airport (ATW) provides travelers, visitors, and airport patrons with convenient, spacious, and secure surface parking situated directly on airport grounds in Appleton, Wisconsin (Town of Greenville). Designed as an expansive open-air asphalt parking lot, it is engineered for easy navigation with wide travel aisles, clearly painted stall markings, and dedicated directional signage. Because the facility is an outdoor ground-level lot without low-hanging ceiling structures, overhead clearance is virtually unlimited, making it exceptionally well-suited for oversized passenger vehicles, lifted pickup trucks, high-roof cargo and passenger vans, full-size SUVs, and rooftop luggage carriers that typically encounter restrictions in multi-story airport garages.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Positioned just off County Highway CB and Challenger Drive, the Blue Lot is situated adjacent to the ATW main passenger terminal. Beyond immediate flight departures and arrivals via Allegiant, American, Delta, and United, the lot serves travelers headed throughout the Fox River Valley. Popular destinations located within a 10- to 15-minute drive include the Fox River Mall commercial corridor, Fox Cities Stadium (home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Minor League Baseball team), downtown Appleton\'s cultural hub featuring the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (PAC), Lawrence University, and the Fox Cities Exhibition Center. Its strategic spot makes it a stress-free launch point whether flying out for business or picking up arriving friends and family.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Accessing the Blue Lot is straightforward from all directions across northeast Wisconsin. Drivers arriving via Interstate 41 (I-41) can exit onto Wisconsin Highway 96 (Wisconsin Avenue) or Highway 15 westbound, connecting smoothly to County Road CB and Airport Drive/Challenger Drive. Exiting the facility is just as efficient, thanks to multi-lane automated exit gates equipped to handle post-flight traffic waves with minimal delays. Ground transportation seamlessly complements the facility with curbside taxis, ride-hailing services (Uber and Lyft), rental car agencies located inside the nearby terminal, and regional ground shuttles connecting passengers to Oshkosh, Green Bay, and the broader Fox Cities metropolitan area.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Spacious open-air surface stalls accommodating standard and oversized vehicles
- Designated ADA accessible parking stalls conveniently located near primary walkways
- Bright, energy-efficient high-output LED overhead lighting throughout the entire lot
- Continuous routine patrols by airport public safety and local law enforcement
- Automated contactless payment kiosks and exit lane readers accepting major credit cards
- Paved, clearly marked pedestrian pathways providing straightforward walking access to the main terminal doors
- Unrestricted vertical clearance, accommodating roof racks, ski carriers, and taller utility vans
Ideal For
- Long-term leisure and vacation flyers seeking cost-effective multi-day parking
- Frequent corporate and business travelers requiring quick, hassle-free airport ingress and egress
- Friends and family waiting for incoming airline arrivals
- Road-trippers and regional travelers seeking dependable vehicle storage during trips
Visitor & Driver Tips
When heading to the airport during peak travel periods—such as early morning departure blocks, holiday weekends, and spring break weeks—arrive an extra 15 to 20 minutes early to secure a preferred parking space and navigate comfortably to check-in and TSA screening. Take a quick photo of your parking row letter and nearby lighting stanchion number on your smartphone to ensure quick vehicle location upon your return, especially if returning late in the evening. Keep your parking ticket in a safe place inside the vehicle or on your person, and utilize the automated exit lanes with a credit card for the fastest checkout experience.
