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Osh newbie looking for advice...

bertschb

bertschb

Where's my engine????
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So I'm thinking about attending Airventure this year for the first time. Of course, at this late date, there is no lodging nearby. But, there is lodging available in Appleton and Green Bay (among other locations). It looks like Appleton is about a 30 minute drive and Green Bay is an hour- ish (based on travel times today). Is that correct? Does daily traffic in and out of the show significantly affect those commute times during show week??

It looks like Appleton hotels are around $500 at the low end with Green Bay less than half that. Not sure if I want to drive an extra 30-45 minutes each way to save the $$$.

Also, any advice on where to park at the show? I'll be driving a rental car if go.

Oh, one more - any thoughts on the Aviators Club South?
 
We did the hotel thing for many years. Back then Appleton was $50. We did Green Bay one trip. The drive was no problem. A bit longer for Green Bay, but flows till you get to Osh. At that point, you have no control. Earlier the better. Osh folks are amazing at parking flow. It's impressive how fast they can bring that many cars in and park them.
Research tips on VAF. Since you're in a rental, I assume you're not bringing much. I would buy a cheapo Styrofoam ice chest and put water bottles and ice in it. Bring a few in with you. Plus that ice cold water sure tastes good on the drive back.
 
wirejock said:
The drive was no problem. A bit longer for Green Bay, but flows till you get to Osh. At that point, you have no control.
Research tips on VAF.
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So the drive from Osh TO Green Bay wouldn't be a problem? In other words, once out of the airshow, traffic heading north isn't affected by airshow traffic doing the same thing? Same question heading to Osh from the north. Airshow traffic heading from Green Bay to Osh is OK until you get near Osh? Basically no penalty staying in Green Bay vs. Appleton other than the extra 25 miles or whatever?

I've read a ton of blogs and watched multiple YouTube videos re: going to AirVenture. Trying to dig up as much information as I can.
 
Ripon College and University Wisconsin Oshkosh may have a room or two last minute. UWO is a bigger operation with shuttle service to the grounds
as well as cafeteria stuff. Ripon is about a 25 minute drive. Rates are north of 100 bucks for non air-conditioned rooms and 175 or so for air conditioned ones. Not the social scale of camping, but you’ll meet a bunch of wonderful people from around the planet in the mix.
 
I have stayed in Appleton, not a bad drive.

As far as the parking, buy the weekly parking pass same price. There will absolutely be a line of cars waiting to purchase a daily parking pass.
 
bertschb said:
So the drive from Osh TO Green Bay wouldn't be a problem? In other words, once out of the airshow, traffic heading north isn't affected by airshow traffic doing the same thing? Same question heading to Osh from the north. Airshow traffic heading from Green Bay to Osh is OK until you get near Osh? Basically no penalty staying in Green Bay vs. Appleton other than the extra 25 miles or whatever?

I've read a ton of blogs and watched multiple YouTube videos re: going to AirVenture. Trying to dig up as much information as I can.
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To be totally honest, our last trip was 10 years ago so who knows how it may have changed. As someone who lived and worked in Austin, TX I didnt feel the drive either way from/to Green Bay was an issue. As a Texan, anything less then all day is a hop skip. Once we got close, it would take 30-60 to get to a parking place. Less to get back on the highway heading back. When we switched from Green Bay, Appleton was still affordable. No way I would do it now. Those are highway robbery rates. My wife isn't a dorm sleeper or hot humid camping person so hotels were the only option. We just got tired of the 1000+ mile drive from home to Wisconsin. It wasn't worth it anymore. I think it would be less expensive to buy a tent, air conditioner and bedding and just camp near electricity. Donate it after the show.

Now my dog is diabetic and totally blind so I have to stay near to help. Flying in isn't possible. Maybe someday we will return. Our G-man son saves us a room in a B&B he rents every year.
Best of luck. Please report your experiences.
 
Not sure how many days you're planning to attend, but Uber/Lyft may be a good option to aviod the parking portion. Need to balance that against the cost of the car rental (which is higher during show week)
 
I'd second looking at Ripon. It's a very easy drive and is reasonably priced (and unless they've changed things, they used to include breakfast at the cafeteria as part of the deal). There were many years that I went to Ripon where I got a room at the last minute, although you may not be able to get an air conditioned room last minute. In terms of traffic, typically once you get out on the highway and just a short distance from the grounds, the flow of traffic is not all that bad. Lots of traffic for sure, but not the stop and go type.

In terms of parking, it depends what time you get to the grounds relative to opening time and what you want to spend the bulk of your day doing. I'd highly recommend trying to get there and parked by the time the gates open. That'll give you your pick of parking. If you go too late during the morning, you'll be parking a long way from any entrance and spend a lot of time simply walking to the grounds. If on a given day you will be at show center going through all of the vendors, park right by the main admission gate (if you get there right away in the am). On a day where you want to hang out mostly in the warbird area and homebuilder displays, skip the admission gate area and go to the lots across from homebuilt aircraft parking. You could also just park out by the museum, go to the museum, then take a shuttle back to the main grounds if you prefer.

I never did the Aviators Club seating. Pricey for a place to sit in the A/C for a few minutes. No matter what they say about it being a place to watch the air show, the best seats are always going to be out in the open by the flight line (well worth bringing a chair, even if you have to go grab it from the car halfway through the day).
 
wirejock said:
As a Texan, anything less then all day is a hop skip....
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I don't mind a 1 hour drive (to/from Green Bay). Just want to make sure it really isn't a 2 hour drive during that week. I know a tent would be cheaper but I'm more interested in comfort than saving money.
 
Reading this post brings back many, fond memories- last time I stayed at a hotel during OSH was 1985 - when the Rutan Voyager was there. In the 90s, I stayed in Camp Scholler. Now I camp next to my plane in HBC… All great experiences. Today - times have changed, and the event is much, much bigger - maybe you can find an ABnB in a nearby town, but unless you drive in early, traffic will be horrendous. As others have posted, the universities and public transport are good options. If you drive up , pretty sure you will able to find car parking. Years ago, I parked near the red barn on non-EAA property and it worked great - someone with more recent experience will have better suggestions. Come on up, it’s a great time!
 
I'm a morning person so arriving early will be no problem. I think I'm going to hang out near the war birds and workshop areas but since I've never been, I really have no idea. Sounds like I'll need a chair for the airshows but lugging a chair around sounds horrible. Not sure how easy it would be to get back to parking to grab a chair from the car. I know there are shuttles/carts/buses or whatever but not real sure about routes, times, etc. All these unknowns are why I keep bailing each year.
 
I have stayed in Appleton several times. Easy drive. Go really early and it won’t be bad at all. I always went early and stayed late. Never felt the traffic was unreasonable. I would price an uber. Will probably save you time and money. No parking, no fuel, no rental car, no wait in line, no long walks.
 
I go every year after dropping the Falcon off in GRB.
I just stay in GRB and commute.
I use my gazillion Marriott points and stay at the hotel Northland, but lots of other hotels and the casino are available cheaper.
:50 min drive with a coffee stop enroute.
Get a Weekly parking pass, I don’t worry about parking close, gonna be walking all day and a good prep for Fall elk hunting.
Go early if you’re arriving Monday, Wednesday come later for night show. Add the floatplane base to the bucket list.
More days equals more experience without the “I gotta see it all by noon” stress.

Oh, Hit Culver’s once going back north.

For the record, I’ve flown into OSH, bed and breakfasted there also, shared a large home ( thanks to B-29 Paul) ,
airplane camped, car camped, lived in Alaska for a long duration in van with girlfriend and a malamute puppy, heck i've even horseback camped in the Gros Ventre wilderness and woke to a bunch of snow..... So I’ve been there, got the tee shirts, and now really prefer a porcelain toilet if possible.

But I do suggest try all modes of OSH before you’re too old to enjoy it.

- cappy
 
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My opinion only here. I used to camp on the grounds. The. I moved to green at and deciddd to drive that year (1990). The worst experience ever. I swore of if I lived in Oshkosh O would camp on site. There is nothing like getting back to camp for lunch in the shade and a nap and cold drinks. Recover from the morning and then head back out for a second round I. The afternoon. Again one back to camp and rest and eat food that you like and can afford. The food and drink prices on the grounds are ridiculous and not much for healthy food either.

Each year camping and we camp in a group. It is like a family reunion every year.

But that is just me.

If hotel is the only answer for you. Then any direction other than south is probably good.

Earlier the start the better. But understand you will be at the will of what you can carry from the car all day. Going back to the car may be a long walk and long tram times so that eats into the day quickly. If you are not into the aerobatics or need to see a jet fighter do 27 full after burnet ear busting fly bys. The. Leave before the last of the airshow act and beat the rush of traffic leaving. You will be exhausted anyway. And if you have several days don’t try to over do it on the first day.

On the grounds. Whenever you pass a water fountain. Stop and drink. Save and carry a water bottle and fill it. Dehydration is a killer. The only downside of drinking lots of water is needing to go to the rest room. Which there are plenty all over the grounds.

Just my thoughts.
 
bertschb said:
I'm a morning person so arriving early will be no problem. I think I'm going to hang out near the war birds and workshop areas but since I've never been, I really have no idea. Sounds like I'll need a chair for the airshows but lugging a chair around sounds horrible. Not sure how easy it would be to get back to parking to grab a chair from the car. I know there are shuttles/carts/buses or whatever but not real sure about routes, times, etc. All these unknowns are why I keep bailing each year.
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We always found places to sit. Often air conditioned. Some with a view of the air show. Lycoming had a patio with free ice cream. Lugging a chair is a PIA. Depending on where, it's a solid mile from the flightline to a car. Unless you want a spot near the flight line, I wouldn't bother. Download the app for the show as soon as possible. Create an itinerary of events and training classes. It really helps and the map has GPS navigation from your phone. Don't miss the flea market. Cool stuff.
Good luck with trams. I gave up. People ride and don't get off. We had that issue in Rocky Mtn Ntl Park. When it became a problem we emptied at the stop and closed the door. Loading was moved to another location. A hundred people waiting in the freezing rain get pretty mad when the bus is full before it loads!
 
Did Green Bay a few times, once or twice the traffic was tied up around 9am exiting the freeway but took 15 minutes longer than the other days. A few days the line into the Brown lot was around a 15 minute wait to get in at 9am. I am not an early person I am pretty sure getting there earlier would probably be an easier drive in. Usual wait for the buses from the museum was usually 15 minutes. No hurry for me most of my scheduled forums start at 10am.
 
I see you mentioned that tent camping is behind you. Have you ever tent camped in OSH?
I certainly would not consider myself an outdoors man or back country camper but camping in OSH is not really
camping. More like sleeping in a tent and enjoying the warm showers and decent facilities. Plenty of food on the field,
albeit not healthy or good food but it beats the heck out lugging your own along for the show.
A good tent and a good air mattress is what you need for comfort plus a set of earplugs so you don't have to endure
the night time noise. A 3 day pass and you are as close as you can get to enjoy every part of the OSH experience.
It's the only way to go for this 65 year old repeat offender.
 
How many days are you thinking of attending? That really dictates a lot. For me, I really enjoy the weekend leading up to the show (before it officially opens) - a backpack with some food, water and handheld radio and I'm just happy as can be sitting along one of the runways and watching hundreds and hundreds of arrivals roll in. I lean towards sitting by Runway 27, just because it's easy to get to from the North parking lots. That's where I do take a chair, considering the show isn't open yet and so you won't be walking around checking out vendors or anything. If you're camping you can get in anytime, but I think with normal daily admission, if you buy Monday you can get in on Sunday to watch arrivals still. So that's usually my first day (or two if I'm camping and am there by Saturday) - highly recommended you do that on Sunday if you're around. Then you really need to decide what you want to see and put it into chunks. You can't grasp how big the place is until you're walking it. You can usually get trams on the North routes fairly easily, but forget about anything South of the plaza. Those are always packed with people just riding and riding. I usually plan a day of warbirds, homebuilts, and walking the looong flightline of planes along 18/36, then throw in some of the education forums since those buildings are at least somewhat in the vicinity, so it makes for a nice break to get in the shade and not walk. Of course then there's the airshow to give you a few hours to rest. The next chunk of the grounds are the central area with exhibits/vendors. If you're the type to really look around vs power through, this can easily be an all day activity...until you decide to go ahead and watch another afternoon airshow. I don't usually go to the South end of the field that much, except to maybe go to the ultralight runway and peruse helicopters and watch whatever is landing on that runway at the time. Grabbing a bus to the seaplane base is a nice break as well. The museum is a great break from the sun as well, and I've never found it all that difficult to catch a bus from the show to the museum and back again.

Bottom line, if you've never been, just grab a map and try to work through the show a chunk at a time. Don't make the mistake of trying to see it all on day one, unless you want to put in 10 miles of walking and only see things at a glance. If you have at least a couple of days, you can enjoy a bit more of a leisurely pace and really enjoy what you're looking at. If you feel like all of the walking is a bit much and you don't care to see everything, you can keep yourself very busy just by looking at the forum schedule and building days around sessions you want to attend too. There are some great forums.
 
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I grew up in Oshkosh so AirVenture seems like going home. There is a lot of good advice in this thread, but I would also put in a plug for seeing some of the things in town. Especially if you have a spouse with you consider some of the city museums and parks. I like to take a day mid week to do some “off site “ activities. The Paine Arboratum is a favorite. Also there are some really good restaurants. (Try the braised walleye) Wisconsin is famous for more than cheese beer and bratwurst.
 
bertschb said:
I'm a morning person so arriving early will be no problem. I think I'm going to hang out near the war birds and workshop areas but since I've never been, I really have no idea. Sounds like I'll need a chair for the airshows but lugging a chair around sounds horrible. Not sure how easy it would be to get back to parking to grab a chair from the car. I know there are shuttles/carts/buses or whatever but not real sure about routes, times, etc. All these unknowns are why I keep bailing each year.
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You can buy a cheap folding camp chair at any of the merch outlets for less than 20 bucks. We always buy chairs the first day, and subsequent days bring in them with us. You can set them up near the flight line early in the morning, and use them as home base during the day (and have a good seat for the pm airshow). We stay at an AirBnB in Appleton and park the rental car in the gray lot at the show. Have had no issues with traffic except leaving after the night air show - last year it took 90 minutes just to get out of the parking lot!
 
Thanks for all the tips guys! I'm leaving here shortly for a 12 hour round trip drive to pick up my prop (new prop re-seal) so I won't be able to reply until later this evening.

I did buy the weekly admission and parking tickets last night to force myself to get airline and hotel tickets :-) My current plan is to arrive on Sunday the 19th and leave Friday the 24th but that's not set in stone. I'll be traveling alone. My wife and I typically do EVERYTHING together (she's going with me to pick up my prop today) but a week walking around in heat and humidity looking at airplanes and sitting in workshops was too much for her.

I think I'll buy a folding chair and leave it in the rental car. If I want it later in the day and it's "easy" to get to, I'll go back and grab it.

Oh, one more question - I looked at all the workshops that are available and selected several of them. It looks like you don't make a reservation for them but just show up and grab a seat if one is available. Is that correct?
 
jsalley said:
You can buy a cheap folding camp chair at any of the merch outlets for less than 20 bucks. We always buy chairs the first day, and subsequent days bring in them with us. You can set them up near the flight line early in the morning, and use them as home base during the day (and have a good seat for the pm airshow). We stay at an AirBnB in Appleton and park the rental car in the gray lot at the show. Have had no issues with traffic except leaving after the night air show - last year it took 90 minutes just to get out of the parking lot!
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If you don’t know, you should not leave chairs unattended on the flight line, in case the winds pick up and launch them into someone’s pride and joy. Historically, the ground crew would remove any found. It may have changed, but it should not have.
 
bertschb said:
My tent camping days are behind me. Now if I could fit a recliner in the tent I might consider it.
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I bought a nice Coleman folding cot with a 2in. mattress and it fits nicely behind the seats in a Ford Fiesta. works just fine in my tent!
Besides that you can't bat Rich's free coffee in the morning, Wi-fi under the pavilion, the corn roast, beer tasting, etc, etc,etc...:cool:
 
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For several years when I would come by myself, I had a military 2 man combat tent. Figured out that Walmart cot would fit. All would fit in the trunk of the car. Scholler was the place, near the bus stop. Now that we exhibit, things have changed alittle.
 
Evening of the 19th you might be able to score a parking spot right across the street from the HBC gazebo for the beer tasting. Remember to bring something to trade.

Monday evening the 20th, the RV Social is outside the Waukau Avenue EAA gate, so exit the grounds there.
 
N427EF said:
I see you mentioned that tent camping is behind you. Have you ever tent camped in OSH?
I certainly would not consider myself an outdoors man or back country camper but camping in OSH is not really
camping. More like sleeping in a tent and enjoying the warm showers and decent facilities. Plenty of food on the field,
albeit not healthy or good food but it beats the heck out lugging your own along for the show.
A good tent and a good air mattress is what you need for comfort plus a set of earplugs so you don't have to endure
the night time noise. A 3 day pass and you are as close as you can get to enjoy every part of the OSH experience.
It's the only way to go for this 65 year old repeat offender.
Click to expand...
+1. Lightweight backpacking cots are expensive but are a total game changer in terms of sleeping comfort, at least for me. And if you’re driving, a cheaper heavier cot is even better.
 
bertschb said:
Thanks for all the tips guys! I'm leaving here shortly for a 12 hour round trip drive to pick up my prop (new prop re-seal) so I won't be able to reply until later this evening.

I did buy the weekly admission and parking tickets last night to force myself to get airline and hotel tickets :-) My current plan is to arrive on Sunday the 19th and leave Friday the 24th but that's not set in stone. I'll be traveling alone. My wife and I typically do EVERYTHING together (she's going with me to pick up my prop today) but a week walking around in heat and humidity looking at airplanes and sitting in workshops was too much for her.

I think I'll buy a folding chair and leave it in the rental car. If I want it later in the day and it's "easy" to get to, I'll go back and grab it.

Oh, one more question - I looked at all the workshops that are available and selected several of them. It looks like you don't make a reservation for them but just show up and grab a seat if one is available. Is that correct?
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I too will be solo this year. Wife could not stand more than three days of humidity, although she grew up in Bemidji.
Workshops, no reservation, grab a seat and enjoy. Even when full, standing room works.
Try all the hands-on forums, welding, riveting, etc.
Many Years ago I took my girlfriend, now wife, to OSH she drove and bucked rivets along side me, between that and her cooking I new I had a “keeper”

- cap

IMG_0943.jpegIMG_0942.jpegIMG_1026.jpegIMG_0370.jpegIMG_0302.jpeg
 
You'll learn a lot the first year you attend the big show. Then something else or different the next year.
You are correct regarding the workshops. If there's an empty chair for the hour-ish long classroom portion, there will be a spot for you at the workbenches afterwards.
 
bertschb said:
So I'm thinking about attending Airventure this year for the first time. Of course, at this late date, there is no lodging nearby. But, there is lodging available in Appleton and Green Bay (among other locations). It looks like Appleton is about a 30 minute drive and Green Bay is an hour- ish (based on travel times today). Is that correct? Does daily traffic in and out of the show significantly affect those commute times during show week??

It looks like Appleton hotels are around $500 at the low end with Green Bay less than half that. Not sure if I want to drive an extra 30-45 minutes each way to save the $$$.

Also, any advice on where to park at the show? I'll be driving a rental car if go.

Oh, one more - any thoughts on the Aviators Club South?
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Two years ago I stayed in Madison, abundant hotel options with non-inflated rates. It is an easy 60 minute drive through pleasant Wisconsin country-side.
 
MED said:
If you don’t know, you should not leave chairs unattended on the flight line, in case the winds pick up and launch them into someone’s pride and joy. Historically, the ground crew would remove any found. It may have changed, but it should not have.
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This used to be the rule, and strictly enforced, but somewhere along the line a couple decades ago it fell into disuse. Nowdays there are chairs lined up all along the flight line all day long. It's less of an issue than it once was, given the change over to folding camp style chairs that are less apt to be blown around.

The biggest issue with chairs being left is that they often block airplanes from getting in/out of Kitplane Alley parking along the flight line. If we have to move the chairs, there is a better than even chance that they'll just be left in a pile out of the way and not placed back where they were.
 
MED said:
If you don’t know, you should not leave chairs unattended on the flight line, in case the winds pick up and launch them into someone’s pride and joy. Historically, the ground crew would remove any found. It may have changed, but it should not have.
Click to expand...
They’re ok with it as long as you leave them folded up on the ground when you aren’t occupying them.
 
MED said:
If you don’t know, you should not leave chairs unattended on the flight line, in case the winds pick up and launch them into someone’s pride and joy. Historically, the ground crew would remove any found. It may have changed, but it should not have.
Click to expand...
certainly hope they do that. Last time i went to the airshow, there were 100's of empty chairs along the flight line, all folded and layed out to "reserve their spot." Seemed folks thought they would put ther chairs there in the morning to reserve themselves a preferred spot. Thought that was both inconsiderate to others and a general risk for aircraft, both parked and on the runway. If a storm pops up, those folks are going to run straight to a shelter and not go pick up theirs chairs they left earlier. Seems wrong that you can lay out a chair in the morning to reserve a spot and those of us that responsibly show up 30 minutes early to get a spot find none available, with the majority unoccupied. as long as you allow that behavior, the flightline will be filled with chairs for the entire show. Why even bring it back after the show? just leave it there to reserve a spot for tomorrow.
 
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