
Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field, is a civil-military airport located 6 miles northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The airport covers 3,500 acres with a field elevation of 887 feet above mean sea level. It is one of two airports in Wisconsin that is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility. The airport is served by Madison METRO Transit, which offers direct service to downtown Madison and other locations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Dane County Regional Airport |
| Other Names | Truax Field, Madison Municipal Airport, MSN Airport |
| Location | 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin |
| Size | 3,500 acres (1,416 ha) |
| Elevation | 887 feet (270 m) above mean sea level |
| Number of Runways | 3 |
| Runway Sizes | 9,006 by 150 feet (2,745 x 46 m); 7,200 by 150 feet (2,195 x 46 m); 5,846 by 150 feet (1,782 x 46 m) |
| Aircraft Based at the Airport | 163 (92 single-engine, 7 multi-engine, 28 jet, 1 helicopter, 35 various military aircraft) |
| Terminal Gates | 16 |
| Amenities | Coffee Shop, Gift Shop, Restaurants, Travel Markets, Lactation Room, Pet Relief Area |
| Transport to/from Airport | Madison METRO Transit, Rideshare, Taxi, Lyft, Uber |
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What You'll Learn
- Dane County Regional Airport is 6 miles from downtown Madison, Wisconsin
- The airport is also known as Truax Field
- It is one of two small-hub primary commercial service facilities in Wisconsin
- The airport covers 3,500 acres with a field elevation of 887 feet
- It is served by Madison Metro Transit, with ridesharing and taxi options also available

Dane County Regional Airport is 6 miles from downtown Madison, Wisconsin
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) is the closest airport to Madison, Wisconsin, located just 6 miles from downtown Madison. This small airport is conveniently situated for those travelling to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with taxi rides to the campus costing around $25 one way.
The airport is served by five major airlines, including Delta and American, with direct flights available from big cities like Minneapolis, Miami, and Las Vegas. For those travelling to Madison, it is a more convenient option than the larger and busier Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee, which is an hour and a half away from Madison.
If you are looking for cheaper flights, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois, is another option, although it is much further away from Madison. Nevertheless, flights to this airport are often more affordable, and there is a daily bus service between the airport and UW-Madison.
So, whether you are visiting Madison, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or another destination in Wisconsin, Dane County Regional Airport is a convenient and well-connected option, located just 6 miles from downtown Madison.
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The airport is also known as Truax Field
Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), 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 is one of two airports in Wisconsin categorised as a small-hub primary commercial service facility, the other being Appleton International Airport. It is the second busiest of eight commercial airports in the state in terms of passenger numbers, after Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
The airport covers 3,500 acres (1,416 ha) with a field elevation of 887 feet (270 m) above mean sea level. It 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); 14/32 is 5,846 by 150 feet (1,782 x 46 m). The airport is home to a wide variety of aircraft, including F16s (soon to be F35s), H60 helicopters, and various commercial and general aviation aircraft.
The airport was previously known as Madison Municipal Airport and was renamed Truax Field when it was activated as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield during World War II. During the war, it was used for training radio operators and mechanics, and later expanded to include training in radar operations, control tower operations, and other communications fields for the Army Airways Communication Service.
Today, the airport is served by Madison METRO Transit, which offers a convenient ride to and from the airport. The airport also offers various amenities for passengers, including a coffee shop, gift shop, restaurants, and travel markets.
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It is one of two small-hub primary commercial service facilities in Wisconsin
Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field, is located 6.9 miles northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. It is one of two small-hub primary commercial service facilities in Wisconsin, the other being Appleton International Airport. The airport is categorised as such in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029.
Dane County Regional Airport is a large, multi-use airport that serves air carriers, military, cargo, business, and general aviation. It is home to the Wisconsin Air National Guard Unit FW115th and the Army National Guard helicopter base, which are located on the southeast side of the airport. The airport has three intersecting runways and a complex system of taxiways. The Wisconsin Air National Guard and the Army National Guard are located on the southeast side of the airport, housing F16s (soon to be F35s) and H60 helicopters. The west ramp is home to the air terminal for all commercial flights, while the south and east ramps accommodate the general aviation community, involving a flight school, charter flights, and aircraft owners.
Dane County Regional Airport covers 3,500 acres, with a field elevation of 887 feet above mean sea level. It has three concrete runways, with the primary runway 18/36 measuring 9,006 feet in length. In August 2024, there were 163 aircraft based at the airport, including single-engine, multi-engine, jet, helicopter, and military aircraft. The airport provides convenient transportation options for travellers, with Madison Metro Transit offering direct service to downtown Madison and other destinations.
The airport has a rich history, having been previously used as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield during World War II. It was also the site of a hijacking incident in 1978, where a hijacker boarded a North Central Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and threatened to burn the plane. Fortunately, the police arrested the hijacker, and no explosives were found.
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The airport covers 3,500 acres with a field elevation of 887 feet
Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field, is a large, multi-use airport in Madison, Wisconsin. It is located 6 nautical miles (11km; 6.9mi) northeast of downtown Madison. The airport covers 3,500 acres with a field elevation of 887 feet (270m) above mean sea level.
The airport has a long history, with the City of Madison purchasing the land in 1927 for $35,380. It was previously a cabbage patch for a nearby sauerkraut factory. Construction began in 1936 when the city council voted to accept a Works Progress Administration grant for the building of four runways and an airplane hangar. The airport was activated as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield during World War II in June 1942.
Dane County Regional Airport has three concrete runways: the primary runway 18/36 is 9,006 by 150 feet (2,745 x 46m); 3/21 is 7,200 by 150 feet (2,195 x 46m); and 14/32 is 5,846 by 150 feet (1,782 x 46m). The airport is home to a variety of aircraft, including single-engine, multi-engine, jet, helicopter, and military planes. The terminal has 16 gates on one concourse, with a range of amenities for travellers.
The airport is easily accessible via public transport, with Metro Transit serving the airport with direct service to Downtown Madison and other key locations.
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It is served by Madison Metro Transit, with ridesharing and taxi options also available
Dane County Regional Airport, also known as Truax Field, is located in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a large, multi-use airport that serves air carriers, military, cargo, business, and general aviation. The airport is easily accessible by public transportation, provided by Madison Metro Transit's Route D2. This route offers a direct service every 30 minutes to downtown Madison, including popular destinations such as Capitol Square, State Street, and the UW Campus.
For those seeking alternative transportation options, ridesharing and taxi services are also available. Ridesharing services such as Uber, Lyft, and other similar options provide convenience and flexibility for travellers. Taxi services are readily available at the airport, offering travellers a comfortable and direct journey to their desired location.
The airport itself has a range of amenities to accommodate travellers' needs. Pre-security, passengers can find a coffee shop and a gift store. Post-security, there are additional dining options, including two restaurants, another coffee shop, and three travel markets. The airport also provides both short and long-term parking options in a large parking structure and adjacent lots, although parking may be limited during busy travel periods.
Dane County Regional Airport has a rich history, initially serving as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield during World War II. It has since expanded and undergone significant development, including a $12 million project in 1986 that tripled the size of the terminal. Today, the airport covers 3,500 acres, featuring three concrete runways and a complex system of taxiways.
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Frequently asked questions
Dane County Regional Airport, also known as Truax Field.
IATA: MSN, ICAO: KMSN, FAA LID: MSN.
The airport is located 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) northeast of downtown Madison.
The Dane County Regional Airport has a coffee shop and a gift shop before security. After security, there are two restaurants, another coffee shop, and three travel markets.
Metro Transit serves the airport via Route D2, which offers direct service to downtown Madison every 30 minutes.
































