The last fill-up before you return a rental at Milwaukee Mitchell is where travelers quietly overpay. The rental counters sit right across from baggage claim and the cars live in the on-site parking structure, so the temptation is to drive straight in on Howell Avenue and let the agency deal with the tank. That is the most expensive way to do it. Milwaukee is one of the cheaper metros we cover, and a two-minute detour on Howell or Layton Avenue turns an agency refuel charge into an ordinary pump price. This guide covers the current averages, the stations within a few minutes of the terminal, and the rental and Turo fuel rules that decide whether you pay once or twice.
Updated November 1, 2026
Current averages
| Grade | Milwaukee-Waukesha metro average | Wisconsin average | US national average | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $4.32 | $4.26 | $4.17 | Nov 1, 2026 | AAA |
| Premium | $5.42 | $5.43 | $5.08 | Nov 1, 2026 | AAA |
| Diesel | $6.31 | $6.32 | $6.30 | Nov 1, 2026 | AAA |
Milwaukee regular is a few cents under both the Wisconsin and the national average, and more than 60 cents under Chicago. If your trip includes both cities, fill up on the Wisconsin side.
Stations near the airport
We do not quote per-station prices because they change hourly; check GasBuddy, Waze or the AAA app a few minutes out. Rental returns at MKE are on the airport itself at 5300 S. Howell Ave., reached from I-41/I-94 via the Airport Spur (WI-119) or from Howell Avenue (WI-38). The airport notes that rental car return has a maximum clearance of 6 feet 11 inches.
- BP, 4709 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee: on Howell about a mile north of the terminal, the closest brand station to the return.
- Mobil, 3870 S. Howell Ave., and BP, 3725 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee: Howell Avenue near Howard Avenue, about 2 miles north.
- Shell, 110 E. Layton Ave., Milwaukee: Layton at Howell, about 1.5 miles northwest of the terminal.
- Speedway, 800 E. Layton Ave., Milwaukee: Layton Avenue east of Howell.
- Clark, 1300 W. Layton Ave., Milwaukee: Layton Avenue by the I-94/I-41 Layton exit, handy if you are arriving from the freeway.
- BP, 1225 W. Rawson Ave., Oak Creek: Rawson Avenue at the I-94/I-41 Rawson exit, about 3.5 miles south, for travelers coming up from Racine or Chicago.
Warehouse clubs are not a factor here. Costco’s Wisconsin warehouse list has no Oak Creek location, and the nearest Costco (New Berlin) is roughly 15 miles away. The Sam’s Club in Franklin on S. 27th Street does not list a fuel station on its club page, and the Sam’s Club with fuel on N. 124th Street is about 20 miles out. Skip the club detour at MKE.
Rental refuel rules
The three options are the same at every major counter. Return the car full and you pay only what the pump charged. Prepay a tank and you forfeit whatever is left; Avis states that “no credit or refund will be given for unused fuel in the tank,” and Enterprise says prepaid fuel is sold only by the full tank and is not refundable. Let the agency refuel and you pay its local rate plus service, which Enterprise says will “vary by the area you are renting a vehicle.” Prepaid fuel only pays off if you return the car nearly empty, and almost nobody does on the way to a flight.
Keep the receipt from your last fill. Avis’s EZFuel rule charges a flat fee to customers who drive fewer than 75 miles unless they fill up and present a fuel receipt at return, and other agencies apply similar short-trip checks. On Turo, the host’s listing sets the fuel policy; Turo’s help center tells guests to refill to the same level as at check-in and to photograph the fuel gauge at check-in and checkout, because hosts have 72 hours to invoice for missing fuel plus a $10 inconvenience fee, and the photos settle disputes.
Local quirks
Milwaukee’s quirk is that it is cheaper than its neighbor. AAA’s Milwaukee metro average is well below Chicago’s, so if you are doing the common Milwaukee-to-O’Hare run, our guide to flying from Milwaukee versus driving to O’Hare has one more argument for filling up before you cross the state line. Around the airport itself, Howell Avenue and Layton Avenue are the two corridors with multiple brand stations within a mile or two of the terminal, and both feed directly back onto the Airport Spur. For where to stay once you land, see Milwaukee on Points.
Pay with the right card
Even a cheap Milwaukee tank should earn points on the way out. Gas stations are a bonus category on several Chase Freedom cards, and the points move to Chase Ultimate Rewards. If you are adding a card, you can apply through our Chase referral link for the Chase Freedom cards.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
Fill up on Howell Avenue. The BP at 4709 S. Howell is a mile from the terminal and the Shell at Layton and Howell is a block off the same route, so there is no reason to arrive with less than a full tank. Decline the prepaid option, keep the receipt, photograph the gauge, and spend the savings on a frozen custard before security.
Sources
- AAA Fuel Prices, Wisconsin and Milwaukee-Waukesha metro averages
- AAA Fuel Prices, national average
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, ground transportation
- Enterprise, Milwaukee Mitchell location
- BP Howell Ave. listing, Mobil Howell Ave. listing, Oak Creek station listings
- Costco warehouses in Wisconsin, Sam’s Club Franklin
- Avis fuel plans, Enterprise fuel options FAQ
- Turo, returning a vehicle and checking out, Turo, refueling invoices for guests
Prices change daily; the averages above are as of the dates shown. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
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