Wisconsin Camping, Lodging & Buses

We want to help you find the best place to stay during your visit to The Energy Fair in Custer, Wisconsin, June 16-18, 2017. Options range from staying within walking/biking distance at the Back 40 Campground to Travel Green locations that implement sustainable practices. We even have kennel info for your pet.

We offer FREE buses from Milwaukee and Madison, thanks to our event partners at the Wisconsin Sierra Club, Milwaukee Shines, and Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP)/Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education. Find more information below.

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Energy Fair Camping
Local Hotels, B&Bs, Campgrounds
Buses (Madison, Milwaukee, Eau Claire)
Local Buses & Shuttles
Biking to the Fair
Air Transportation
Pet Kennels

Energy Fair Location

The Energy Fair grounds are located at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association headquarters, nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Custer, Wisconsin, about seven miles east of Stevens Point.

Address:
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
7558 Deer Road
Custer, WI 54423

Looking for a place to stay nearby? See a full listing of area lodging options, including hotels, bed & breakfasts, motels, and campgrounds at our Area Accommodations page.

Energy Fair Camping at the “Back 40”

Both tent and RV campsites are available at our Back 40 Campground during The Energy Fair. Sites are located just 1 mile from the Front Gate.

Tent, walk-in – $20/night
Tent with car – $22/night
RV – $25/night

Feel free to park your car for the weekend while you walk, ride your bike, or take the free shuttle (runs every 15 minutes) to The Energy Fair. A solar-powered shower trailer and porta-potties are available for your use. We will open camping orders to the public in spring 2017.

Register for your campsite while spots still available.

The Back 40 Campground is sponsored by Crockett Septic based in Wisconsin Rapids.

Area Hotels, B&Bs, and Campgrounds

You can visit the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s website to see a full list of hotels and camping in the central Wisconsin area, and don’t forget to check-out which lodging options are Travel Green Wisconsin certified. Listing does not imply endorsement from the MREA. For details and availability, please contact the site directly. Additional information including details about Portage County can be obtained through the Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Energy Fair negotiated rates available at the following hotels by mentioning the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA):

Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center (held until 5/16/17, Group Block Code: MRE)
Holiday Inn Express & Suites (held until 90% occupied)

View Area Accommodations

FREE Milwaukee Bus TWO SPOTS LEFT, Call 715-592-6595 to register or be added to a waitlist – Saturday, June 17, 2017

Tickets are free. Limited to first 55 sign-ups with 30 spots reserved for educators. Sponsored by Milwaukee Shines and Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP)/Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education.

Educators, you will walk away from this professional development opportunity with more ideas for your classroom or programming than you’ll know what to do with! And it’s a great place to network with other educators and professionals in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable living, including gardening and composting.

We have the following timing and stops planned:

6:45 a.m. – Park N Ride near Holt Ave and I-43/94/41; free parking available
7:00 a.m. – Milwaukee Train Station (Southeast of I-43/I-794); free street parking may be available in the area; $3 for full day in parking garage
7:20 a.m. – Wauwatosa (US 45/Watertown Plank Rd); free parking available

Bus arrives at the Energy Fair 9:45 a.m. and leaves the Fair at 7:15 p.m. Arrives in Wauwatosa at 9:30 p.m., Milwaukee Train Station at 9:45 p.m., and the Park N Ride near Holt Ave at 10:00 p.m.

FREE Madison Bus – Saturday, June 17, 2017

Proudly sponsored by Sierra Club Wisconsin. Register at: http://signup.com/go/wLJVrH.

7:00 a.m. – Depart from Willy St Coop West, 6825 University Ave in Middleton. (Please arrive early and park on the street.)
7:15 a.m. – Depart from Hilldale parking lot entrance opposite the Great Dane (Park on the top floor of the ramp.)
7:30 a.m. -Depart from Kohl Center, 601 W Dayton St.
7:45 a.m. – Depart behind Hawthorne Library, 2707 Hermina St
8:30 a.m. – Optional pick up in Portage, WI if there are riders
9:45 a.m. – Arrive at The Energy Fair
7:15 p.m. – Depart the Energy Fair to return to Madison. Will be back at Willy St West by 10:00 p.m.

FREE Eau Claire/Menomonie/Osseo Bus – Saturday, June 17, 2017

Tickets are free. Proudly sponsored by Xcel Energy, who is always delivering, and wants to deliver YOU to The Energy Fair! Xcel Energy is pleased to sponsor a FREE bus from Eau Claire area to the MREA Fair in Custer. Come visit 200+ exhibitors and choose from more than 250 workshops on renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainability.

We have the following timing and stops planned:

6:15 a.m. – Menomonie (UW Stout parking lot 14, see campus map)
6:45 a.m. – Eau Claire (south side of Oakwood Mall, 4800 Golf Rd, Eau Claire, WI 54701)
7:15 a.m. – Osseo (Exact stop TBD)

Bus arrives at the Energy Fair 9:45 a.m. and leaves the Fair at 7:15 p.m. Arrives in Osseo at 9:30 p.m., Eau Claire at 9:45 p.m., and the Menomonie at 10:00 p.m.

Local Shuttle from Stevens Point, WI

The Energy Fair offers FREE local shuttles to and from Stevens Point. Shuttles come hourly at the following approximate times:

Friday and Saturday
7:00 a.m. – 11:25 p.m. (Last drop off leaves The Fair at 10:40 p.m..)

Sunday
7:00 a.m. – 4:25 p.m. (Last drop off leaves The Fair at 4:40 p.m..)

:00 Comfort Suites
:15 Econo Lodge Inn & Suites
:20 Dunham’s Sports
:25 Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center
:40 The Energy Fair

Back 40 Campground Shuttle

Camping at the Back 40? Leave your car and take our free shuttle to The Fair! Runs every 15 minutes Friday through Sunday at the following approximate times:

Friday and Saturday
7:15 a.m. – 11:40 p.m.

Sunday
7:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Bike to the Fair

Interested in riding your bike to The Energy Fair? The Energy Fair is a comfortable ride from Stevens Point or Amherst. Download the Stevens Point bike route here. Download the Amherst bike route here. Contact us at 715-592-6595 for group bike rides to the Fair!

Bike rental is available in Stevens Point through Nature Treks at 715-254-0247.

Travel by Rideshare

For those interested in a RideShare, we recommend Wisconsin’s RIDESHARE program. Wisconsin’s RIDESHARE program brings commuters together and is a free service provided by the State of Wisconsin. RIDESHARE serves all of Wisconsin and the bordering counties in other states (IA, IL, MI, MN). Registration through the site is free, it also offers Facebook integration as well as downloadable applications for those who don’t have email.

Air Transportation

The nearest airports to the fair:

Mosinee (CWA) 30 miles
Appleton 60 miles
Madison 110 miles
La Crosse 125 miles
Milwaukee 160 miles
Minneapolis 220 miles
Chicago 250 miles

Kennel Information – No Pets

Please no pets at The Energy Fair! Dogs are not allowed on the fairgrounds, in the parking lot, or in the campgrounds. Dogs and/or any other animal found in any of these areas will be reported to staff and may be removed by the authorities.

For a small fee you can keep your pet safe and comfortable at one of the following kennels: