My daughter applied UW–Mad RD. If she makes it past the Michigan first cut and is postponed EA then we may try to visit both in the same trip. How would you recommend we structure a mid-March trip? Fly into Detroit, rent car and drive to AA, then drive to Madison or return car and fly DTW to Madison? I’m fine with a one-way rental car fee, I just want to be smart with our time. Not sure how weather might be in March, but I am comfortable driving in moderate snow. …I don’t know the Midwest AT ALL so not sure what is best approach, thanks!
It’s roughly 8 hours between the two with a time change. Of course, if there is snow, from Ann Arbor to Chicago can be really dicey. Not that from Chicago to Madison is a cake walk either. Getting through Chicago from Ann Arbor to Madison is a slow go. It’s often backed up from Sox Park until you get to the Cave. And then again at the Kennedy/Edens spilt to O’Hare. All this could add anywhere from an hour to several hours depending on traffic and weather. Mid-March isn’t usually all that snowy but you never know with lake effect on MI side.
Great feedback thanks, sounds like I should book a flight from DTW to Mad! Appreciate the help. The online calculator said five hour drive but you never know…
We did this exact trip back in September. We flew to DTW, did the tour and the next day flew from DTW to Madison. Madison is a really nice and small airport. I think we flew Delta.
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Great thanks!
I basically think it costs a day to drive, and not always an easy day. On a long trip it might be fine, but I agree on a shorter trip that is a lot.
It is definitely helpful Ann Arbor is very convenient for DTW, and that Delta then flies non-stop to Madison. Not usually the cheapest flight but still very convenient.
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Looks like one way flight is about $200 and will take 1 hour ten minutes. (I knew that but was weighing time for airport drive, wait time etc) Thanks, all.
I am very familiar with this drive being from Detroit but living in Chicago and we go to a Wisconsin enough. Fly. The drive is flat and nothing special. If you were making it a few days then there are places to visit. Make sure you have enough time at both campuses. Good luck.
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Another option – for better cost and flight availability, you could fly from DTW to Chicago (either airport) and then drive to Madison. As others have advised, definitely don’t drive between Ann Arbor and Madison. But the drive from Chicago and Madison is reasonable, unless you hit rush hour/weather.
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Fly!
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Milwaukee is also an option, and a shorter drive, although that is usually not notably cheaper than Madison.
Chicago is a competitive route so definitely likely to save on costs.
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Wistfully remembering the days of Midwest Express and cheap flights out of Milwaukee that would give me the chance to browse the used bookstore in the airport… Those are long gone (though I have no idea whether the used bookstore still exists).
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