Why go
- Capital of Wisconsin, United States.
- Served by Dane County Regional Airport (MSN).
History
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 census. The Madison metropolitan area has an estimated 708,000 residents. With a downtown centrally located on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona, the city also encompasses Lake Wingra. Madison was founded in 1836, and is named after American Founding Father and President James Madison. Madison is the county seat of Dane County.
Restaurants & places to go
292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 11 direct destinations
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, Embraer 170, A319, 737-700, CRJ, MD-88…) · 7 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati*, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Salt Lake City*, Washington*
- United Airlines UA (ERJ, CRJ-700, CRJ) · 3 routes: Chicago*, Denver*, Newark*
- American Airlines AA (ERJ-145, ERD, CRJ) · 2 routes: Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*
- US Airways US (ERJ-145, ERD) · 2 routes: Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth
- Air France AF (A320, CRJ-700, CRJ-900) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319) · 1 route: Denver
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (A320, 737-700, CRJ-700, CRJ-900) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Dane County Regional Airport (MSN); 18 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: MSN has direct flights to 11 destinations on 7 airlines (incl. Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Cincinnati…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Madison, Wisconsin. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.