Airports
For those traveling by air, Madison is served by the Dane County Regional Airport that connects to several major airline hubs.
Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International airport (MKE) is 80 miles East of Madison, with a regular Badger Bus service between the two cities.
The Badger Bus (phone 1-877-292-8259) leaves outside the baggage claim area (lower level, south end of the airport). The trip to Madison takes two hours. The service departs daily every two and a half hours between 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and costs $25. The last bus stop is UW Memorial Union on the UW campus.
Chicago’s O’Hare International airport (ORD) is 150 miles to the South East of Madison and has an hourly VanGalder coach service between the two cities. The VanGalder bus leaves from the Chicago airport and arrives at the Memorial Union in Madison right on campus.
From Chicago O’Hare, take the Van Galder Bus (phone 1-800-747-7407) from either the (international) Terminal 5 (lower level, gate 5E) or the Bus Center (in the main parking garage between terminals 1, 2 and 3). The trip to Madison is three hours. The coach departs daily about every hour between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and costs $29 one way. The last stop is the UW Memorial Union.
Airport to Hotel Transportation
The Concourse Hotel offers airport-hotel shuttle service. To request shuttle service in advance, please call the hotel concierge to make arrangements. If you have not made arrangements in advance of your arrival, proceed to the baggage claim area and look for the hotel courtesy phone display between the luggage conveyers. Pick up the courtesy phone and dial the number indicated for the Madison Concourse Hotel. The hotel operator will let you know when the shuttle will arrive to pick you up.
Alternatively, taxis are usually waiting at the Taxi Stand outside the baggage claim area of the Dane County Regional Airport. There is also a metro bus service (#20), although you need to make a bus change at the North transfer point to get to downtown.
Hotel to Airport Transportation
Please make arrangements with the concierge at the Concourse Hotel for shuttle service to the airport. Alternatively, you can call a taxi. Please call for taxi service at least 2 hours prior to the time you would like to be picked up at the hotel.
Madison Taxi Services
If there is not a taxi available at the airport, call:
Badger Cab: 608-256-5566
Green Cab: 608 255-1234
Madison Taxi: 608 255- 8294
Union Cab: 608 242-2000
Taxi fare from the Dane County Regional Airport to downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin campus costs approximately $25-$30 one way.
For more information regarding transportation: http://www.visitmadison.com/plan/maps-transportation/
VISA Requirements
If you are traveling from outside the US, please check whether you need a visa. Most Canadian citizens and many citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries can come to the United States (U.S.) without a visa if they meet certain requirements. All Visa Waiver Program travelers must present a machine-readable passport at the U.S. port of entry to enter the U.S. without a visa; otherwise, a U.S. visa is required. Other foreign citizens will need a nonimmigrant visa. Check here for more information on visitor visas. Please email conferences@union.wisc.edu if you need a visa letter.
Should you need a letter of invitation to obtain an Entry Visa, please contact the conference organizers. These will only be issued to attendees who have fully registered and paid.
Please note that we cannot enter into correspondence with the US Authorities on your behalf and any invitation letter does not imply any financial liability on our part.