Minneapolis to Madison WI drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Minneapolis to Madison WI by car is 270 miles, with a 4h14m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Minneapolis to Madison WI drive are Eau Claire, Mill Bluff State Park and Wisconsin Dells.
Planning a Minneapolis to Madison WI road trip itinerary
The Minneapolis to Madison drive connects the biggest city in Minnesota to the capital of Wisconsin.
Top attractions in the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul include the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Basilica of St Mary and Minnehaha Falls.
Minneapolis has a big craft brewing scene, and one of the best ways to explore is on a craft breweries tour. Alternatively, take a walking tour through the city’s vast Skyway network of enclosed bridges and food tours.
Other MSP experiences include St Paul’s historic gangster-era caves, Twin Cities ghost tours and St Paul walking tours.
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.
Minneapolis to Madison WI distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Minneapolis to Madison is 270 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 14 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-94.
The best stops to add to a Minneapolis to Madison WI road trip itinerary are Eau Claire, Mill Bluff State Park and Wisconsin Dells.
Minneapolis to Madison WI road trip attractions: Eau Claire
Eau Claire WI has a handful of attractions to check out. The Chippewa Valley Museum covers regional history and the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire is a hands-on affair, all about learning through play.
There’s also a decent brewing scene in Eau Claire. Try Lazy Monk Brewing for European-style beers and the Brewing Projekt for beers it proudly boasts “not everyone will like”.
Minneapolis to Madison WI drive: Mill Bluff State Park
Just outside Camp Douglas, Mill Bluff State Park is largely about the geology. The landscape is a mixture of buttes, mesas and pinnacles, all of which were once islands in a glacial lake. Camping is available, while there’s also a swimming pond for the brave.
If passing through, one of two walking trails should do the trick. The 0.4 mile nature trail gives a good idea of the environment, while the 1.25 mile Camel’s Bluff Trail is more extensive.
Best stops between Minneapolis and Madison WI: Wisconsin Dells
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.
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