Located in south central Wisconsin, Madison is just off Interstates I-90, I-94 and I-39 providing easy access to Milwaukee (1.5 hours), Chicago (2.5 hours) and Minneapolis (4.5 hours).
Community Car
Community Car is Wisconsin’s first and only carsharing organization that provides vehicles by the hour. Members have access to fuel-efficient hybrids, a pick-up truck, a minivan and a Mini Cooper. Community Cars are located at reserved parking spots throughout the city and are available 24/7. Members reserve the car they want, get in and go.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car offers a selection of flex fuel and hybrid vehicles to make traveling through the Madison area fun as well as environmentally friendly. On a national scale, the company is committed to planting one million trees for the next 50 years and recently established the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, which is focused on finding new ways to create fuel from renewable and more reliable sources.
Kobussen Buses, Ltd
A family-owned business since 1938, Kobussen Buses provides environmentally responsible transportation to area nature centers, county and state parks, wildlife preserves and the International Crane Foundation.
Madison Metro Transit System
The Madison Metro Transit System covers Madison and the surrounding communities of Monona, Middleton and Fitchburg. In addition, the system also operates during special events to ease traffic and parking flows, and offers two free bus lines in the downtown/campus area.
Shuttle Service
Most major Madison hotels offer complimentary transportation to and from Dane County Regional Airport. Many hotels also offer transportation for guests to other points in the Madison area as well. Madison’s downtown hotels are within close proximity to each other, allowing for the design of economic and effective custom shuttle service. They can provide regular service between your housing block hotels and Monona Terrace® Convention Center.
Drive time and mileage from Madison to key cities:
| City | Hours | Miles |
| Cincinnati | 7.0 | 452 |
| Cleveland | 7.5 | 500 |
| Des Moines | 5.0 | 288 |
| Detroit | 7.5 | 405 |
| Dubuque | 2.0 | 94 |
| Grand Rapids | 6.0 | 329 |
| Green Bay | 2.5 | 135 |
| Indianapolis | 6.5 | 366 |
| Kansas City | 7.0 | 460 |
| Rockford | 1.5 | 78 |
Air Travel
Dane County Regional Airport offers direct non-stop service to:
- Atlanta / Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Delta)
- Chicago–O’Hare International / American Eagle and United Express
- Cincinnati / Comair (Delta)
- Cleveland / Continental Express
- Dallas/Fort Worth / Northwest Airlines
- Denver / United Express
- Detroit / Northwest Airlines
- Memphis / Northwest Airlines
- Milwaukee / Midwest Connect
- Minneapolis / Northwest Airlines
- Newark / Continental Express
- New York–LaGuardia / American Eagle
- St. Louis / American Connection
- Washington D.C.– Reagan National / Northwest Airlines
Recent renovations to the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison have increased the total square footage from 126,000 (2001) to 278,000 (2006) in the passenger terminal, expanding counter queuing areas, baggage claim areas and service/shops/restaurants. Dane County Regional Airport was the first airport to receive The Federal Aviation Administration-Great Lakes Region’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Environmental Stewardship. The award cited the “extraordinary measures” the airport took to protect the environment while improving the runway safety.
Once inside the city limits, Madison offers a variety of transportation options that are both convenient and environmentally-friendly. With 120 miles of shared-use paths, the city is easy to traverse by foot or bike. It’s no wonder Bicycle and Outside magazine have ranked Madison one of the nation’s best biking cities, while Prevention magazine rated Madison the best walking city in the country. Please visit the City of Madison’s walking/biking resource page for recommended routes: www.ci.madison.wi.us/mayor/getFit/walk.html
