Chicago to Madison road trip: Best stops, drive time & distance
The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Madison WI drive are Santa’s Village, Rockford IL and Lake Kegonsa. The distance from Chicago to Madison by car is 147 miles, with a 2h17m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Madison road trip itinerary
A Chicago to Madison road trip takes you from the biggest city in Illinois to Wisconsin’s capital.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin, and it hosts several decent attractions. Top of the list should be the State Capitol Building, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Pedestrianised State Street is the spot for shopping, drinking and dining.
Other good Madison experiences include downtown e-bike tours, self-guided smartphone walks and ghost tours.
Chicago to Madison WI distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Madison is 147 miles. This makes for a driving time of around two hours and 17 minutes.
The quickest route is along the I-90.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Madison road trip itinerary are Santa’s Village, Rockford IL and Lake Kegonsa State Park.
Chicago to Madison WI road trip attractions: Santa’s Village
Near Elgin IL, Santa’s Village is a small scale theme park that also incorporates a zoo section. There are a couple of rollercoasters, but Santa’s Village is mainly aimed at smaller children.
Come during the warmer months and you can also enjoy the Santa Springs Water Park. But be warned – the water park only opens if the temperature is forecast to reach 72 degrees before noon.
Best stops between Chicago and Madison WI: Rockford IL
Rockford IL is the biggest city in Illinois, if you discount those within the Chicago metropolitan area. There are plenty of things to do in Rockford IL, too. The Discovery Center Museum covers interactive science, while architecture lovers can visit Frank Lloyd-Wright’s Laurent House.
Rockford’s real strength, however, is a series of gardens by the Rock River. Of these, the sizable Anderson Japanese Gardens is the most strikingly impressive.
Chicago to Madison WI drive: Lake Kegonsa State Park
3,200-acre Lake Kegonsa has become a recreational hotspot, with a popular campground, a series of picnic areas and a well-used boat launch. The hiking trails take in woodlands and wetlands, but the main reason to visit in the summer months is the swimming beach.
Canoeing and kayaking are also possible on the lake.
For more attractions, check out the guides for the Chicago to Rockford IL drive and Rockford IL to Madison drive.
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