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Downtown Madison:
This PDF map shows the Madison area: Madison Area Map
By Air
This is easy, since Madison has only one airport, Dane County Regional (MSN). There has been no special discount arranged for air travel to WisCon. Ask your travel agent whether Midwest Airlines has flights from your airport—it’s a smaller company that provides excellent, comfortable service.
Flights into Milwaukee (MKE - 90 miles away) or Chicago (ORD - 150 miles away) are often much cheaper, but you’ll need to take a bus into Madison. (See: “By Bus” below.)
The Madison airport is small. There are three baggage claim carousels right next to each other. The taxi rank is outside the baggage claim area. See the section “Getting Around Madison: Cabs” for information about cabs.
If you arrive by plane and are staying at the Concourse, use the express courtesy phone in the baggage claim area to call for the hotel’s courtesy shuttle. Allow 15 to 20 minutes for it to arrive; meet the shuttle directly outside the baggage claim area. It runs from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Madison Metro Bus #24 stops at the Madison airport terminal on weekdays only, 6:39 a.m.–9:29 p.m. Getting to the Concourse from the airport by bus involves making a transfer. Contact the Madison Metro for more information: 608-266-4466
By Bus
Van Galder (800-747-0994) runs regular service from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and from the Chicago Amtrak station to the Memorial Union in Madison (which is about 3/4 mile from the Concourse Hotel). The bus also stops along the way in Rockford, IL, Beloit, WI, and Janesville, WI. One-way tickets (about $25) can be purchased at the terminals or from the bus driver.
Badger Coaches (608-255-6771) make trips from the Milwaukee airport (Mitchell Field) and Madison, dropping off at both the Memorial Union and Badger Bus Depot. Tickets cost $19 one way, $32 round trip.
Once at the Memorial Union you may call the Concourse to catch a ride on the hotel’s courtesy shuttle (257-6000). This service is usually only for guests arriving at the airport but they will pick you up if they’re not busy. If you feel like walking one mile up State Street to the hotel, follow the map on the next page.
Megabus now provides service from Chicago and Minneapolis. It takes you to the "Dutch Mill Park and Ride," and you'll need to use Madison Metro, a friend, or cab to get from there downtown. But the fare tends to be extremely low.
Greyhound also provides service between Minneapolis (and other cities) and Madison. Fares are higher, and there are multiple stops along the way, but it gets you there. Greyhound stops at the Memorial Union.
By Car
Use the Madison Area Map to plan out your route to WisCon.
From Chicago: north on Hwy 90 to Hwy 12/18 West (also called the “Beltline”). Take the John Nolan Drive exit north—you’ll get a nice view of the skyline and eventually pass underneath the Monona Terrace Convention Center. At the second traffic light after the Center, continue straight through the light onto Blair (look at the downtown map). After two blocks, turn left onto East Washington Ave....
From Minneapolis: south on Hwy 90/94 to Hwy 151 South, which becomes East Washington Ave....
From Milwaukee: west on Hwy 94 to Hwy 30 West. Follow signs for Hwy 151 South/Capitol/Campus (it’s a tight right-hand exit off Hwy 30). Hwy 151 South becomes East Washington Avenue....
From Iowa: East on Hwy 151 to Hwy 12/18 East (also called the “Beltline”). Take the John Nolan Drive exit north—you’ll get a nice view of the skyline and eventually pass underneath the new Monona Terrace Convention Center. At second traffic light after the Center, continue straight through the light onto Blair (look at the downtown map). After two blocks, turn left onto East Washington Ave....
...head up East Washington Ave. toward the Capitol building. (See downtown map on next page.) Admire the skyline. Two blocks before the Capitol Square turn right onto Webster St.; after two blocks turn left at traffic light onto Dayton St. (90° angle to Dayton; don’t take Hamilton which is a 45° angle to Capitol Square); the Concourse is on your left after two blocks between Wisconsin Ave. and Carroll St.
By Train
The nearest Amtrak station is in Columbus, 25 miles north of Madison on Hwy 151. There is no direct transportation from there, so be sure to make plans to have someone pick you up in Columbus. There are also stations in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Portage
Getting around Madison
There are plenty of restaurants near the hotel. The downtown area has plenty of shops, including drugstores for necessities. Generally speaking, you won’t need to rely on extra transportation unless you are planning to sightsee or need to shop for an evening party.
Cabs
Cabs from the airport to the Concourse will cost $10 to $15.
Badger Cab: 608-256-5566
Madison Taxi: 608-257-8294
Union Cab: 608-242-2000
Metro Buses
The Madison bus system channels most of its routes within a few blocks of the Concourse. For routes and schedule contact Madison Metro 608-266-4466, TDD 608-267-1143.
Parking
Free underground parking is NOT available at the Concourse. Standard parking charge is $7 per vehicle night for all registered guests (this will appear on your hotel bill). If you do not have a Concourse sleeping room, parking costs $7 for the whole day or $4 for 4 hours or less. You can unload in the hotel parking garage and take the elevators up to the lobby. Clearance in this ramp is low! Just 5'6".
Additional parking for vans and other vehicles is available in the public parking ramp a half block down Dayton St. at Carroll St. You may still unload in the hotel parking garage (no fee) and take the elevators up to the lobby.