Owais Crawford
Dane County Regional Airport, previously a cabbage patch, now covers 3,500 acres with a field elevation of 887 feet above mean sea level. The airport has three concrete runways and one concourse with 16 gates. The airport has undergone several upgrades, including a terminal modernization program in 2018 and an $85 million expansion in 2021. While I cannot find a direct reference to Dane County Regional Airport being 'towered', there are several references to its elevation and construction, as well as the presence of a control tower in photographs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of construction | 1936 |
| Airport size | 3,500 acres |
| Elevation | 887 feet |
| Number of runways | 4 |
| Number of gates | 16 |
| Pre-security amenities | Coffee shop and gift shop |
| Post-security amenities | Two restaurants, a coffee shop, and three travel markets |
| Transport options | Taxi, Uber, Lyft, Metro Transit, rental car, hotel shuttle |
| Parking | Short-term and long-term |
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What You'll Learn
Dane County Regional Airport's history
Dane County Regional Airport, also known as Truax Field, is a civil-military airport located 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The airport covers 3,500 acres (1,416 ha) with a field elevation of 887 feet (270 m) above sea level. It has three concrete runways, the primary one being 9,006 by 150 feet (2,745 x 46 m).
The history of Dane County Regional Airport dates back to the late 1930s. In January 1936, the Madison City Council voted to accept a Works Progress Administration grant for the construction of four runways and an airplane hangar. The land, previously a cabbage patch for a nearby sauerkraut factory, was purchased by the city in 1927 for $35,380. Additional grants financed the terminal and administrative building, as well as electric floodlights. The total development cost was $1 million, with the city paying 10% and the federal government covering the rest.
In March 1939, the Madison Municipal Airport, as it was then known, opened with Howard Morey as its manager. Northwest Airlines, now Delta Air Lines, has served passengers in Dane County regularly since the first terminal was built that year. Morey also opened the first U.S. government-funded Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. In 1942, the operation of the airfield was transferred to the US Army Air Corps and it was renamed Truax Field, in honour of Madisonian Lt. Thomas L. Truax, who died in a training flight before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Corps expanded the airfield to 2,140 acres and rebuilt the four runways. During World War II, the airfield was activated as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield and was used by the Army Air Corps Eastern Technical Training Center, a major school operating at the time.
In 1972, the city-owned airport was subsidised $650,000 per year by county tax dollars. The following year, the City Council backed a transfer to the county, which was approved by the County Board in June 1974. On July 1, 1974, the Dane County Regional Airport officially came into being. By 1974, the airport was handling over 500,000 passengers annually. In 1982, the airport became self-sustaining and paid off all its debts without relying on property tax support. Four years later, in 1986, the airport underwent a significant expansion, tripling in size and adding a second-level concourse with six boarding bridges. By 1990, the airport served over 1 million passengers annually.
In more recent years, Dane County Regional Airport has continued to develop and expand its facilities. In 2017, the airport began construction on Taxiway M to improve runway safety. In 2018, a significant terminal modernisation programme was announced, including the replacement of existing jet bridges and the addition of new ones. The airport also plans to incorporate renewable energy sources by adding an 8 MW solar energy site. In 2021, an $85 million expansion of the South Terminal was commenced, adding three new gates capable of accommodating larger aircraft. The airport has also announced its intention to apply for international airport status.
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The airport's runway and aircraft specifications
Dane County Regional Airport covers 3,500 acres (1,416 ha) with a field elevation of 887 feet (270 m) above mean sea level. The airport has three concrete runways: the primary runway 18/36 is 9,006 by 150 feet (2,745 x 46 m); 3/21 is 7,200 by 150 feet (2,195 x 46 m); and 14/32 is 5,846 by 150 feet (1,782 x 46 m). In 1970, a $1.9 million airport improvement plan was approved for the reconstruction and expansion of the airport's existing runways. Construction began in 1972.
In August 2024, there were 163 aircraft based at the airport: 92 single-engine, 7 multi-engine, 28 jet, 1 helicopter, and 35 various military aircraft. The airport is also home to the Wisconsin Air National Guard and its 115th Fighter Wing, an Air National Guard fighter wing operationally gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC). The Air National Guard's Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II operates at the base. The airport also houses the 1-147th Battalion, which operates the UH-60M Blackhawk Helicopter.
The terminal currently has 16 gates on one concourse, with three additional gates being added as part of the South Terminal expansion. The airport offers pre-security amenities such as a coffee shop and a gift shop, while the post-security side includes two restaurants, another coffee shop, and three travel markets. The airport has undergone various expansion and improvement projects over the years, including a $68 million expansion in 2006 that doubled the size of the terminal and added new amenities. The airport also provides convenient transportation options, such as taxi services, rental car counters, and ridesharing options like Uber and Lyft.
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Terminal facilities and amenities
Dane County Regional Airport has a range of terminal facilities and amenities for travellers. The airport terminal is open from 4 am until the last flight of the day arrives. There is free Wi-Fi available throughout the terminal, and travellers can select 'msnairport' to get a connection. An information point is available in the Arrivals/Baggage Claim area of the terminal. There is also a designated lost and found and luggage storage area.
In terms of dining, the airport provides a coffee shop and gift shop before security. Post-security, travellers have access to two restaurants, another coffee shop, and three travel markets. The airport also has a restaurant on the concourse floor, which was added as part of the South Terminal expansion.
Dane County Regional Airport also has a range of transport options. Taxi services and rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are available for curbside drop-off outside the terminal. Additionally, many local hotels provide a courtesy shuttle service to and from the airport. For those driving to the airport, there is both short and long-term parking available in a large parking structure and several adjacent lots. However, parking may be limited during busy travel periods, so travellers are encouraged to consider alternative transport options.
Dane County Regional Airport also has rental car counters located across from the baggage claim area. The airport is served by Metro Transit's Route D2, which offers direct service to Downtown Madison every 30 minutes. This includes popular destinations such as Capitol Square, State Street, and the UW Campus.
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Transport options to and from the airport
Dane County Regional Airport is located 10km (6 miles) northeast of central Madison, Wisconsin. There are several transport options to and from the airport:
Car
The airport's parking facilities include a multistorey car park with short and long-term rates, a short-term surface car park near the terminal, and an economy car park around a 10-minute walk from the terminal. Disabled parking is available in all car parks.
Taxi
Taxi services and rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are available outside the terminal. Taxi companies serving the airport include Green Cab, Badger Cab, Madison Taxi, and Union Cab.
Bus
The Madison Metro Transit System operates a bus service (Route D2) to and from the airport, with buses leaving from outside Entrance 6. During weekdays, buses run every 30 minutes, and hourly during weeknights, weekends, and holidays. The route offers direct service to downtown Madison, including the Capitol Square, State Street, and the UW Campus.
Shuttle
Many local hotels provide courtesy shuttle services to and from the airport.
Rental Car
Rental car companies like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National have counters located across from the baggage claim area.
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The airport's future plans
Dane County Regional Airport, also known as Truax Field, is a civil-military airport located 6 miles northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The airport has been undergoing an $85 million expansion, the largest in its history, which is expected to be completed by April 2024. The expansion includes the addition of 90,000 square feet of space, with operational facilities, traveller amenities, and three new gates to accommodate larger aircraft and increase the airport's capacity. The new South Terminal features two floors, with 45,000 square feet of restaurants, retail, and other public spaces on the upper floor, and 45,000 square feet of maintenance workshops and infrastructure on the lower floor.
The airport began considering an expansion in 2019 due to two consecutive years of passenger growth, and construction began in 2021 despite a drop in air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The expansion is expected to pave the way for more flights and passengers, helping the airport surpass its pre-pandemic travel levels and setting it up for future growth. The airport also plans to add an 8 MW solar energy site on airport-owned land.
In February 2025, Dane County Regional Airport announced its intention to apply for international airport status. The airport covers 3,500 acres, with three concrete runways, and had 163 aircraft based there as of August 2024. The airport is the second busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin and is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility in the Federal Aviation Administration's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025-2029.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Dane County Regional Airport is a towered airport. It covers 3,500 acres with a field elevation of 887 feet above mean sea level.
Dane County Regional Airport offers pre-security amenities such as a coffee shop and a gift shop. Post-security amenities include two restaurants, another coffee shop, and three travel markets. The airport also has a large parking structure and several adjacent lots for both short and long-term parking.
Metro Transit serves the airport via Route D2, which offers direct service to Downtown Madison, including the Capitol Square, State Street, and the UW Campus, among other destinations. Taxi services and transportation network company drivers (such as Uber and Lyft) are also available outside the terminal.
