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Local transportation

You are responsible for your own transportation within Madison, but we will help coordinate and can reimburse costs between the airport and your hotel.

Travel Between the Madison Airport and Your Hotel

Both Lyft and Uber are active in Madison, or you can choose from our local taxi companies, including Green Cab, and Union Cab.

Note

We will need receipts for any taxi fair over $25.

Taxis are readily available at the Madison airport, but nearly everywhere else (e.g., from your hotel back to the airport), you should contact the company and request a ride or make a reservation in advance.

Additionally, Madison Metro's #20 bus runs every half-hour from 6am to 10pm weekdays and connects with the north transfer point where you can find buses serving the campus area. More information in our bus section.

Walking

It is easy to walk in and around the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus with many Madison landmarks within a mile of the School and your hotel. Use a mapping app or ask us or your hotel for a map. In particular, State Street — which connects the Capitol Square with the UW campus — is full of great shops and restaurants and is worth strolling along while you are here.

City of Madison Metro Bus Service

Many Madison Metro buses stop near the hotel and pass through the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Bus fare is $2.00, and if using a transfer ask the driver for a free transfer pass upon boarding.

Google Maps is a great resource for finding the best bus routes to use in Madison, giving multiple route options for each trip. Additionally, the Madison Metro Website provides a web interface to plan your trip.

Note

Bus routes stop running around ~11pm each day.

Taxis and Ride-Sharing Services

Both Lyft and Uber are active in Madison, or you can choose from our local taxi companies, including Green Cab, and Union Cab.

Note

We cannot reimburse for any taxi or rideshare service beyond the ride to and from the airport.

Madison BCycle

Madison is a great city to bike in, and there is even a short-term bike rental system called BCycle. Bcycles are available throughout the city, most notably across the street from both your hotel and the Computer Science building.

Pricing for Bcycles can be found on their website and consist of several tiers.

Pricing

Single Ride Pass

  • $5 per 30 minutes of riding

Day Pass

  • $15 for unlimited 60-minute rides for 24 hours.
  • Rides longer than 60 minutes are subject to usage fees of $3 per 30 minutes.

Month Pass

  • $30 unlimited 90-minutes rides for one month!
  • Rides longer than 90 minutes are subject to a usage fee of $3 per additional 30 minutes.

For instance, it is possible to pick up a bike at Union South, next to the classroom building, and then drop it off at one of many locations around the central part of Madison.