Origin
Madison, WI
Late night in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, WI to McFarland, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
19m
Distance
9.7 mi
16 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Wikimedia Commons
McFarland, WI
actually_jet
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.
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 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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.52 one way
$3.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.67 | $3.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.87 | $3.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.14 | $4.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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
Late night in McFarland on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer 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.
What kind of drive is this?
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.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.7 mi on West Beltline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 9.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.
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.
About the Cities
Starting in Madison, WI
Full guide →Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 9.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.7 miles on West Beltline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at McFarland, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at McFarland, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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