Origin
Madison, WI
Evening in Madison on Sunday
Local time
5:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, WI to Cottage Grove, WI
Drive Time
25m
Distance
13.9 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, WI
Quang Vuong
Cottage Grove, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Madison and Cottage Grove, this 13.9-mile trip is an ideal short-haul option. You can expect to reach your destination in about 25 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. Budgeting for this drive is remarkably simple, as you will likely spend only about $2 on fuel. Navigating through the Midwest, you will transition from the city streets of Madison onto the interstate system. Because of the short duration, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or multiple rest stops. It is a straightforward, practical route that gets you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6.9 miles from Madison, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing local navigation with faster highway transit. You will begin on West Johnson Street before transitioning onto WI 30 and eventually merging onto I-94. Roughly 48% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on the highway, providing a predictable rhythm to the journey. While the longest uninterrupted stretch is 3.5 miles on I-94, the road conditions shift as you move away from the urban environment. Expect a blend of city traffic and open interstate driving that keeps the pace brisk throughout the 25-minute transit.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 3.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Brooks Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 13.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Brooks Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Johnson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Baldwin Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Brooks Street
Turn left onto North Brooks Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Johnson Street
Turn left onto West Johnson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
North Baldwin Street
Turn right onto North Baldwin Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
WI 30
Merge onto WI 30
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
11.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 244
Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Madison, WI to Cottage Grove, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Cth N: Sun Prairie along the way.
Cth N: Sun Prairie
11.2 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| WI 30 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| West Johnson Street | 2.2 mi | 7m |
| East Washington Avenue | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| County Highway N | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Baldwin Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Brooks Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 3.5 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, WI and Cottage Grove, WI.
1
Start on CTH MS
317 ft
·
18 sec
·
University Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Brooks Street
432 ft
·
26 sec
·
North Brooks Street
3
Turn left onto West Johnson Street
2.2 mi
·
7 min
·
West Johnson Street
Use the none lane.
4
Turn right onto North Baldwin Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Baldwin Street
5
Turn left onto US 151
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Washington Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward WI 30 East
7
Merge onto WI 30
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
WI 30
Use the none lane.
8
Merge onto I 94
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 94
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 244
Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
248 ft
·
6 sec
11
Turn straight onto CTH N
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway N
Use the none lane.
12
Continue on CTH N
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
CTH N
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 13.9-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the duration is brief enough to complete in one go. Keep an eye on traffic patterns when exiting Madison, as the transition from local roads like West Johnson Street to the highway can be busy. Since your fuel cost is estimated at just $2, you can easily manage the trip on a single tank without special planning. Focus on navigating the merge onto I-94 efficiently to ensure a smooth transition into Cottage Grove.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6.9 miles from Madison, WI, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 13.9 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.9 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottage Grove, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Madison, WI
This is one driving day of about 13.9 miles and 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Madison, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 3.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.9 mi from Madison, WI · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.9 miles from Madison, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cottage Grove, WI
The final approach into Cottage Grove, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Cottage Grove, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.11 one way
$4.22 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.33 | $4.65 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.62 | $5.25 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.46 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Cottage Grove, WI
Evening in Cottage Grove on Sunday
Local time
5:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Madison, WI to Cottage Grove, WI covers 13.9 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, WI 30, West Johnson Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.9 miles from Madison, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.11 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 13.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Brooks Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Johnson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Baldwin Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Madison, WI to Cottage Grove, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Cth N: Sun Prairie along the way.
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