Best Hotels Near Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin

A Wisconsin football weekend is one of those trips where the hotel can become part of the experience.

Camp Randall Stadium sits on the west side of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus at Monroe and Regent streets. The stadium opened in 1917 and currently holds 76,030 fans.

Madison also gives football travelers something many college towns don’t: the ability to combine the game with a genuinely good city weekend. Stay in the right place and you can experience campus, State Street, downtown, the lakes and the game without spending half the trip in a car.

Here are the hotels we’d consider first.

Wisconsin Union Hotel: Best Hotel for Camp Randall Stadium

For pure location, it’s hard to beat the Wisconsin Union Hotel at Union South.

The 60-room boutique hotel is actually on the UW–Madison campus, and Wisconsin Union describes it as being just steps from Camp Randall. Some rooms even have stadium views.

There’s another major advantage on football Saturdays: Badger Bash takes place at Union South directly across from the stadium.

Wisconsin Athletics says the official pregame tailgate is free, open to the public and starts 2½ hours before every home game.

That means you can leave your hotel, walk into one of the biggest pregame gatherings in Madison and then cross over to Camp Randall.

Best for: The easiest possible game day, first-time visitors and serious Wisconsin football weekends.

Hilton Garden Inn Madison Downtown: Best Balance of Stadium and Downtown

Hilton Garden Inn Madison Downtown occupies a particularly useful location along Regent Street.

Destination Madison describes it as minutes from UW–Madison, the Kohl Center and Camp Randall Stadium.

That positioning gives you easier access to the stadium than many hotels farther downtown without completely removing you from Madison’s restaurants and nightlife.

For travelers who want football to be the centerpiece of the weekend but still want to explore the city, this may be the sweet spot.

Best for: First-time Madison visitors who want both football and downtown.

DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown: Best All-Around Location

DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown sits on the eastern edge of the university campus.

Hilton lists UW–Madison and the Kohl Center just 0.2 miles away and Camp Randall Stadium one mile from the hotel. The property also offers a complimentary airport shuttle during its published operating hours.

A one-mile stadium distance is attractive because you’re close enough to walk while still being positioned near downtown and State Street.

Best for: Visitors flying into Madison and anyone wanting a walkable all-around location.

Hampton Inn & Suites Madison Downtown: Best for Free Breakfast

Hampton Inn & Suites Madison / Downtown sits across from UW–Madison with State Street and the Kohl Center nearby.

The hotel includes free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and fitness center.

That complimentary breakfast is more useful than it sounds on game day. Instead of hunting for a table with thousands of other visitors, you can eat early and start making your way toward campus.

Best for: Families and travelers who like having breakfast handled.

Graduate by Hilton Madison: Best for State Street and the College-Town Experience

If your ideal Wisconsin weekend includes as much Madison as possible, Graduate by Hilton Madison is an especially fun option.

It’s one block from State Street and the university campus, 0.2 miles from Memorial Union Terrace and 1.3 miles from Camp Randall Stadium.

The hotel’s design also leans into Wisconsin and Badger traditions rather than feeling like a generic business hotel.

You give up the near-stadium location of Union South, but gain one of the best positions for enjoying campus and Madison before and after the game.

Best for: Couples, alumni, restaurants, bars and the full college-town atmosphere.

Best Western Plus InnTowner Madison: Best for Drivers

Best Western Plus InnTowner Madison is a useful alternative west of campus.

The hotel describes itself as minutes from Camp Randall and UW–Madison and offers complimentary breakfast, free parking and a free local shuttle within two miles, subject to availability.

That combination can be particularly attractive if you’re road-tripping into Wisconsin.

Downtown parking charges can quickly make an apparently similar hotel rate more expensive, so free parking is worth factoring into the comparison.

Best for: Road trips, families and travelers prioritizing parking.

The Madison Concourse Hotel: Best for a Downtown Madison Weekend

If football is only one part of your trip, consider The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club.

The hotel sits in the heart of downtown Madison near the Wisconsin State Capitol and is five miles from Dane County Regional Airport.

This isn’t the hotel we’d choose solely to minimize the walk to Camp Randall.

It is the type of location we’d choose for a three-night Madison trip where the itinerary includes downtown restaurants, the Capitol, State Street and the football game.

Best for: Couples and longer Madison weekends.

Should You Stay Near Camp Randall or Downtown Madison?

For a first Wisconsin football game, we’d lean toward campus or the area between campus and downtown.

Madison is compact enough that you don’t necessarily have to choose between the two experiences.

Union South is the clear winner for stadium convenience. Hilton Garden Inn, DoubleTree and Hampton Inn provide useful middle-ground locations. Graduate shifts the balance toward State Street and campus nightlife, while The Madison Concourse puts you closer to the Capitol.

There’s also something to be said for walking to the stadium.

Instead of sitting in game-day traffic, you’re moving through campus with thousands of other fans—which is part of the reason people travel for college football in the first place.

What Should You Do Before a Wisconsin Football Game?

If you’re staying nearby, Badger Bash is an easy answer.

The official pregame event takes place at Union South across from Camp Randall and begins 2½ hours before kickoff. It includes the UW Marching Band, Bucky Badger, food and drinks.

Because it’s free and open to the public, you don’t need a separate tailgate invitation to get a taste of the Wisconsin pregame atmosphere.

Afterward, you’re already across the street from the stadium.

Do You Need a Car for a Madison Football Weekend?

Not necessarily.

If you fly into Madison and choose a hotel around downtown, State Street or campus, much of the trip can be handled on foot.

A car becomes more useful if you’re staying farther from campus or plan to explore beyond central Madison.

If you’re driving into town, our preference would be to park at the hotel and leave the car there on game day whenever practical. Wisconsin Athletics notes that a free attended bike corral is also available for home football games along the Southwest Commuter Path.

How Far Is the Airport From Camp Randall?

Dane County Regional Airport is conveniently close to central Madison.

Graduate Madison lists the airport five miles away, while DoubleTree Madison Downtown lists it six miles away.

That makes Madison an unusually manageable fly-in college-football destination.

You can arrive at the airport, get into central Madison and potentially spend the rest of the weekend without needing a rental car.

When Should You Book a Hotel for a Wisconsin Football Game?

Book as soon as you know which game you’re attending.

Camp Randall holds 76,030 people, and the most desirable lodging options around campus represent only a tiny fraction of that number.

For major Big Ten games, homecoming and other high-demand weekends, the closest properties can become difficult or expensive well before game day.

If you’re planning far ahead, a refundable reservation is often preferable to waiting for kickoff time or the rest of the weekend itinerary to be finalized.

For the easiest possible Wisconsin football weekend, Wisconsin Union Hotel at Union South is our first choice. Few hotels can compete with staying on campus, steps from the stadium and directly beside the official pregame festivities.

For the best balance of football and Madison, look at Hilton Garden Inn Madison Downtown, DoubleTree Madison Downtown or Hampton Inn & Suites Madison Downtown.

And if your version of a great football trip includes State Street, restaurants and a little nightlife, Graduate Madison makes a compelling home base.

Camp Randall may be why you book the trip, but Madison is why we’d make it a full weekend.