Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells: Distance, drive time & best stops
The distance from Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells by car is 56 miles, with a driving time of 1h2m. The best road trip stops on the Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells drive are Token Creek County Park, the Pink Elephant and Cascade Mountain.
Planning a Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells road trip itinerary
The drive from Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells takes you from Wisconsin’s capital to the state’s theme park hotspot.
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.
Wisconsin Dells is home to several theme parks, the most notable of which is the Noah’s Ark Water Park. This is the biggest water park in the United States. Kids – and big kids – can spend hours learning to surf and tackling rollercoaster-esque water slides.
When not tackling slides and rides, you can try a haunted history trolley tour through the city.
Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Madison to Wisconsin Dells is 56 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and two minutes. The quickest route is largely along the I-90.
The best stops to add to a Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells road trip itinerary are Token Creek County Park, the Pink Elephant and Cascade Mountain.
Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells drive: Token Creek County Park
Token Creek County Park to the north of Madison is a popular camping spot, but its real strength is in the variety on offer. There are hiking trails in summer, which turn into cross-country skiing trails in the winter.
There are also two playgrounds, an elevated boardwalk through the marshland and a 27 hole disc golf course.
Madison WI to Wisconsin Dells road trip attractions: The Pink Elephant
The Pink Elephant in DeForest, Wisconsin, is one of America’s most gloriously silly roadside attractions. This giant fibreglass elephant statue is next to the gas station at exit 126 of the I-90, and it makes for a great photo stop.
Locals know the statue as Pinkie, and it started life outside a bar in Marquette, Iowa, before adapting to its new habitat in Wisconsin.
Best stops between Madison WI and Wisconsin Dells: Cascade Mountain
Cascade Mountain near Portage is arguably Wisconsin’s top ski resort, and it has some of the longest runs in the Mid West. This Wisconsin ski resort tends to be more popular with snowboarders than skiers, but there are a plenty of unusual winter activities available as well. Kids are more likely to enjoy the snow tubing. Grab a big rubber ring, then whizz down the 900ft ice chute.
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