Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is a city of 278,001 people in Dane County, Wisconsin, founded in 1836.
Why visit Madison
Townapedia lists 184 museums and landmarks, 64 parks and trails, 247 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 24 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Henry Vilas Zoo, Overture Center for the Arts, L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum and Bascom Hill.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 11°F.
Weather in Madison
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Madison
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the second-most populous city in the state (after Milwaukee), 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.
From the Wikipedia article Madison, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do24
Henry Vilas Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · 2.2 mi
Zoo in the United States
702 South Randall Avenue, Madison
09:30-17:00
Hilldale Farmers' Market
Farm and orchard · 1.7 mi
702 North Midvale Boulevard, Madison
We,Sa 08:00-13:00
Monroe Street Farmers Market
Farm and orchard · 1.9 mi
2219 Monroe Street, Madison
Su 09:00-13:00
12 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks184
L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum
Museum · 1.6 mi
1150 University Avenue, Madison
Mo-Fr 08:00-16:00; PH off; SH off
Bascom Hill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Main quadrangle of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus
Chazen Museum of Art
Museum · 1.8 mi
750 University Avenue, Madison
Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa,Su 11:00-17:00; PH off
Grimm Book Bindery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Building in Madison, United States of America
Longfellow School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
School building in Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum · 2.3 mi
227 State Street, Madison
PH off; Th 12:00-21:00; Fr,Su 12:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-18:00
Vilas Park Mound Group
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Native American mounds
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Washburn Observatory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Astronomical observatory in Madison, Wisconsin
1401 Observatory Drive, Madison
Agricultural Engineering Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic building on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Agricultural Heating Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
United States historic place
Agriculture Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Lecture hall
172 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds64
The Glen Golf Park
Golf course · 2.0 mi
3747 Speedway Road, Madison
Apr 1-Nov 24: Mo-Fr 06:00-sunset, PH,Sa,Su 05:30-sunset; Nov 24-Apr 1 off
Camp Randall Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 1.5 mi
1440 Monroe Street, Madison
Kohl Center
Sports field and stadium · 2.1 mi
601 West Dayton Street, Madison
52 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes247
Mickies Dairy Bar
Restaurant · American, Breakfast · 1.6 mi
1511 Monroe Street, Madison
We,Th 07:00-14:00; Fr,Sa 06:00-14:00; Su 07:00-14:00
Barriques - Monroe St
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.7 mi
1825 Monroe Street, Madison
Mo-Sa 06:30-19:00; Su 07:00-18:00
Bartaco
Restaurant · Tacos · 1.6 mi
464 North Midvale Boulevard, Madison
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Chocolate Shoppe
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.1 mi
468 State Street, Madison
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Crescendo Espresso Bar
Cafe · Breakfast, Coffee Shop · 1.5 mi
719 Hilldale Way, Madison
Mo-Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 07:00-18:00
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
Restaurant · Burger · 2.0 mi
317 North Frances Street, Madison
Su-Mo 11:00-22:00; Tu-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00
EVP Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.1 mi
741 University Row, Madison
Mo-Fr 06:00-17:00; Sa-Su 07:00-12:00
235 more on the map.
Where to stay11
Mansion Hill Inn
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
424 North Pinckney Street, Madison
Churches and places of worship32
Luther Memorial Church
Church · Lutheran · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
1021 University Avenue, Madison
First Unitarian Society of Madison
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
First Congregational Church
Church · United Church Of Christ · 1.3 mi
1609 University Avenue, Madison
Shopping47
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries63
Healthcare20
Group Health Cooperative Capitol Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
675 West Washington Avenue, Madison
UW Health 20 South Park Street Clinic North Building
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
20 South Park Street, Madison
UW Health 20 South Park Street Clinic South Building
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
20 South Park Street, Madison
Map of Madison
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 11°F | 1.7 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 14°F | 1.7 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 25°F | 2.3 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 36°F | 4.2 in |
| May | 69°F | 47°F | 4.5 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 5.7 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 61°F | 4.7 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 4.1 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 3.9 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 39°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 28°F | 2.3 in |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Uw Arboretum - Madison (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Dane County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-10-18: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Flood)
- 2011-04-05: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-06-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-03-19: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Shorewood Hills 1 mi southwest, about 2 min by car
- Middleton 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Maple Bluff 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Monona 5 mi southeast, about 9 min by car
- Waunakee 7 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Fitchburg 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Verona 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- McFarland 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Roscoe 50 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Machesney Park 54 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Madison Picnic Point, Av9, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787248627, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52788201945, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787797311, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787248317, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787797521, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52788248733, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52788035754, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52788253348, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52788255538, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787249872, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52788028874, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787243192, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787804136, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787249617, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52788197375, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- First Unitarian Society of Madison Meeting House, University Bay Drive, Shorewood Hills, WI - 52787243477, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vilas Park Mound Group, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BascomHill, Unknown author, Public domain
- Washburn Observatory (53325395055), Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Longfellow School Madison, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Grimm Book Bindery, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ely House, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hiram Smith Hall and Annex, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Commons House, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Agricultural Dean's House Madison, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Herbert and Katherine Jacobs Second House - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Stock pavilion, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Lutheran Middleton, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Judge Arthur B. Braley House, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old U.S. Forest Products Lab, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2804 Columbia Road, College Hills Historic District, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Dairy Barn, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Henry Mall, University of Wisconsin, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lathrop Hall, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wiedenbeck Dobelin, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Leonard House Madison, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hoyt Park shelter, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- American Tobacco Company Warehouses Complex, James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0
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