Transportation

The Madison Region has a well-developed and diverse transportation network for moving products and people. The rich history of the dairy industry has provided fantastic roads throughout the eight counties, while air, rail, and the interstate highway system connect us with markets near and far.

Roads
Four major interstates cross the region connecting us with Chicago, Milwaukee, the Twin Cities, and beyond.

Air
The Dane County Regional Airport offers more than 85 flights daily on major airlines flying directly to major U.S. cities or airport hubs. An additional 16 small airports service the region at the county or municipal level.

Freight and Passenger Rail
Five freight rail lines operate in the region, while Amtrak stops in Columbus, Portage, and the Wisconsin Dells.

Bus Lines
Several bus lines provide daily service to Milwaukee, Chicago, and Minneapolis.

Commuting Trends
Residents in the Madison Region enjoy shorter commutes to work compared to the rest of the nation. With an average commute of just 23.4 minutes, nearly 75% of our workforce commutes less than 30 minutes to work and only 10% commute more than 45 minutes.

Almost 6% of commuters in the Madison Region bike or walk to work, above both the state and national averages. In addition, 4.6% of Dane County commuters utilize public transportation, which is over two times the state average and close to the national average.

Proximity to Markets
The Madison Region provides close proximity to several major Midwestern markets. Drive times below use the City of Madison as the geographic center of the eight-county region; drive times may vary from other parts of the region.

Chicago, IL: 150 mi, 2 hrs 50 min
Milwaukee, WI: 80 mi, 1 hr 30 min
Minneapolis, MN: 270 mi, 4 hrs 50 min
St Louis, MO: 360 mi, 6 hrs 30 min
Des Moines, IA: 290 mi, 5 hrs
Green Bay, WI: 137 mi, 2 hrs 40 min