Origin
Madison, WI
Evening in Madison on Sunday
Local time
6:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, WI to McFarland, WI
Drive Time
19m
Distance
9.7 mi
16 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, WI
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Madison to McFarland, you are looking at a brief 9.7-mile journey that typically takes about 19 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You will primarily navigate via West Beltline Highway, US Highway 51, and John Nolen Drive to complete the transit between these two Midwestern towns. With fuel costs estimated at just $1, this is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. It functions as a straightforward local connection rather than a long-haul road trip, making it an ideal choice for errands or a quick visit between neighboring communities.
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
4.8 miles from Madison, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition between city streets and regional highways. With a highway share of only 20%, much of your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating local infrastructure rather than cruising at high speeds. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the West Beltline Highway, lasting for 2.7 miles. Because this path relies on a mix of thoroughfares, the character of the road changes frequently as you exit the busier sections of Madison. Stay alert for these shifts in road type, as the technical nature of the turns requires consistent attention throughout the short 19-minute transit.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Beltline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 2.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 12 significant decision points across 9.7 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): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Johnson Street
Turn left onto West Johnson Street
Navigation decision point
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 12 East, US 18 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
7
6.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 51: Stoughton Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 266
Toward US 51: Stoughton Road
8
6.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 51 South: McFarland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 51 South: McFarland
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Beltline Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| US Highway 51 | 2 mi | 3m |
| John Nolen Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Farwell Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| South Stoughton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Proudfit Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Park Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Regent Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Beltline Highway
— 2.7 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, WI and McFarland, 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
430 ft
·
19 sec
·
West Johnson Street
4
Turn right onto North Park Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Park Street
5
Turn left onto Regent Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Regent Street
6
Continue on US 151
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Proudfit Street
7
Continue on US 151
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Shore Drive
8
Turn right onto John Nolen Drive
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John Nolen Drive
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
10
Merge onto US 12; US 18
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Beltline Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 266
Toward US 51: Stoughton Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 51 South: McFarland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US 51
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
South Stoughton Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 51
15
Turn left onto Farwell Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Farwell Street
16
Turn right onto Exchange Street
11 ft
·
0 sec
·
Exchange Street
17
Arrive at destination
Exchange Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 9.7-mile trip with zero planned stops, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about refueling or extensive rest breaks given the brevity of the drive. The primary advantage of such a short route is the ability to bypass traditional road trip planning, allowing you to leave whenever it suits your schedule. Keep in mind that because the route is turn-heavy, you should ensure your GPS is set before you pull away to navigate the transition between John Nolen Drive and US Highway 51 smoothly. Use the time saved on logistics to enjoy the ease of travel between these two Wisconsin locations.
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 4.8 miles from Madison, WI, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 2.7 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 9.7 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.8 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McFarland, 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 9.7 miles and 19m.
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 West Beltline Highway for about 2.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.8 mi from Madison, WI · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 9.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.8 miles from Madison, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in McFarland, WI
The final approach into McFarland, 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 McFarland, 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
$1.47 one way
$2.95 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.62 | $3.25 |
| premium | $4.80 | $1.83 | $3.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.16 | $4.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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
McFarland, WI
Evening in McFarland on Sunday
Local time
6:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
19m 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 McFarland, WI covers 9.7 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Beltline Highway, US Highway 51, John Nolen Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.8 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 $1.47 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 12 significant decision points across 9.7 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): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Madison, WI to McFarland, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to McFarland, WI
Explore more options from Madison, WI or browse trips ending in McFarland, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.
Explore maps for Madison, WI or McFarland, WI on MapSof.net.