Transportation and Parking
Maps and Directions
- Directions: Information with directions to campus by car, bus, or plane
- Campus Maps: Links to campus and downtown maps featuring parking, bus routes, and Wisconsin highways
Students find that the fastest, easiest, and most economical ways to get around Campus are by walking, biking, or riding the bus. Students are not encouraged to bring a car to campus due to limited parking space and high costs. Encourage your student to use one of these methods for getting around campus.
Biking can improve health, save money, offer convenient parking, and save daily commuting time. Thousands of students, staff, and faculty commute by bicycle to UW–Madison. Find information about bike safety, parking, regulations, and routes.
Busing on Campus. Routes 80 and 85 are free for everyone. Included in the cost of tuition is a bus pass through the Associated Students of Madison, allowing students to ride all city buses for free. For route and schedule information visit Madison Metro.
Car Sharing: Community
Car is a member-based carsharing service that provides high gas-mileage and
hybrid-electric vehicles by the hour for individuals and organizations. Beginning
in fall 2007, students aged 19 and older are eligible to become members.
SAFE
Services: Safe
Arrival For Everyone (SAFE) Services provide
the university’s comprehensive late-night transportation options. SAFE’s
goal is to promote personal and community safety by offering a safe means
of nighttime transportation and by educating the UW community on matters
of nighttime safety. Options include, SAFEwalk, SAFEride cab, and SAFEride
bus.
PARKING
Campus parking lots require vehicles and mopeds to have a parking permit or pay a meter. Contact Transportation Services for student and visitor parking information.
The City of Madison has many public parking lots and ramps nearby. Find more information about parking lot locations and rates.
Students living off campus may be eligible to purchase a Residential Parking Permit through the City of Madison, which allows them to park on the city street for up to 48 hours in two-hour parking zones.
Traveling outside of Madison
There are several local companies that offer bus service from Madison to other major cities.
- Badger Bus (Madison to Milwaukee)
- Van Galder Bus (Madison to Chicago)
- Jefferson Bus Lines (Madison to the Twin Cities via La Crosse, Winona, and Rochester)
- Better Bus (Madison to Twin Cities; on holidays/breaks)
- Greyhound Bus (a number of routes)
- Megabus (linking Chicago, Madison and Minneapolis)
Ride Boards: Students may post “ride needed” or “ride offered” notices. There are two main boards: one is located on the first floor of the Memorial Union and the second is in the lower level of Union South, near the Randall Station entrance. “Women Only” ride boards are located in the Memorial Union second-floor women’s restroom and in the Union South first-floor women’s lounge.