Madison-Area Destinations to Explore by Bike

Madison is a famously bike-friendly city, where visitors can spend a great day sightseeing and pedaling their way to some truly memorable moments. Read on for some ideas and resources to help you get started planning your Madison cycling adventure!

Safety First

Whether you and your crew are experienced cyclists or just occasional riders, it’s important to bike safely and follow the rules. The City of Madison has excellent cycling resources, including “10 Smart Rules to Bike Safety” and tips on bike path etiquette, plus information on how best to share the road and bike at night. Plan your trip on the Dane County Bicycle Map!

Get in Gear

If you’re planning to stop, shop, snack or sightsee, be sure to bring bike locks. Bike racks are plentiful around many areas of Madison.

Madison BCycles are rentable electric-assist bikes available at designated stations around town, though you need to provide your own helmets. And, of course, whether you ride your own bikes or rent them, always wear helmets!

Isthmus Musts

Downtown Madison sits on a scenic strip of land between lakes, known as an isthmus, crisscrossed with bike paths and many streets with marked bike lanes. Start a day of exploration at the renovated historic Garver Feed Mill and include a stop for lattes at Ledger Coffee Roasters inside. After fueling up, pedal over to see the petals at nearby Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Wander with your crew on pathways through colorful flowers and picturesque bridges. You can also check out the indoor Bolz Conservatory blooming with even more dazzling flowers and other plants for a small fee.

Try the Capital City Trail, comprised of designated bike paths and some roadways. A daily pass for this trail is $5, paid at trailheads, if your group decides to go farther afield. Ride to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Monona Terrace – cyclists can take a bike elevator up, lock their bikes and then walk up to the top deck for fantastic views of Lake Monona. Head over for a group selfie at the Wisconsin State Capitol Building and grab lunch at Graze – chef Tory Miller is a James Beard Award winner!

Head to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus to bike with your besties on the unpaved Howard Temin section of the UW Lakeshore Path. Cruise along gorgeous Lake Mendota, then turn around and ride back to the Terrace at Memorial Union for a casual dinner lakeside.

Loop-a-Lake

The popular Lake Monona Bike Loop makes for an unforgettable group ride with your favorite people. This designated ~13-mile route takes cyclists along the lakefront, past beaches and parks, and through pleasant neighborhoods. While parts of the route are on bike paths, other parts are on (or cross) busy roads, so this ride is best for experienced road riders. Route signage can be hard to spot, so keep a phone handy in case you get off track. Cycling-themed Café Domestique proclaims itself “the perfect place for your pre- and post-ride caffeination needs” and is just a few blocks off the route. Esther Beach Park is a good stop, with bathrooms and a water bottle filling station.

Trees, Please!

For a shorter bike adventure with your crew, roll through the verdant UW Madison Arboretum. Though unpaved trails are closed to bikes here, you can stop partway for a hike (most parking lots have bike racks). To continue the fun, from “the Arb” you can bike to the free Henry Vilas Zoo to peek at polar bears and grab a snack at Glacier Grille. To see more trees, continue cycling down leafy Edgewood Drive, between Edgewood College and Lake Wingra.

Discover more bike friendly cities across Wisconsin or explore America's first rails-to-trails project on the Elroy Sparta State Trail. 

Ready for refreshing outdoor fun? Check trail conditions and know before you go with the Wisconsin Trail Report.