"A Ferry Nice Drive"

Southern terminus: Dane County, at U.S. Highway 151 (E. Washington Ave.) in Madison

Northern terminus: Sauk County, at Highways 33 & 123 in Baraboo

Mileage: about 40 miles

Counties along the way: Dane, Columbia, Sauk

Sample towns along the way: Madison, Waunakee, Lodi, Merrimac, Baraboo

Bypass alternates at: Merrimac

Quickie Summary: State “Trunk” Highway 113 serves the east side of Madison, Madison's Truax Field Airport, and the emerging areas north of town before going through the only Waunakee in the world and crossing the Wisconsin River on a free ferry before ending at circus capital Baraboo. But hurry... the ferry service may not be there much longer!

The Drive (South to North): Highway 113 starts as a little jog off U.S. 151 (East Washington Avenue, a.k.a."East Wash") in Madison, in view of the state capitol just a few miles away. (map) It starts at 1st Street for all of a few seconds before turning onto Johnson Street, a main one-way street leading from the UW campus. Johnson breaks away and Highway 113 follows the multilane road, which becomes Pennsylvania Avenue, which become Packers Avenue. See why it's easier just to follow the number sometimes?

This is THE route from Madison's downtown to the airport. On the way, you pass the world headquarters of Oscar Meyer Foods, home of a variety of meats and the ever-popular Weinermobile. Direct access to the interstates east of Madison (I-39, 90 & 94) can also be had via Aberg Avenue, which also leads to Highway 30, a key route out of Madison that was also the key road to Milwaukee prior to the I-system taking over.

Just north of all this is Madison's airport, Truax Field/Dane County Regional. With an airport code of MSN, it fortunately came before Microsoft's attempts at duplicating AOL, so they couldn't sue. An airport since 1937, it was activated as an army base in 1942 and deactivated in 1968, though it still holds the 115th Fighter Wing, flying F-16's. The commercial portion of the airport is expanding rapidly, with a new parking garage, terminal expansions and adjacent business parks spouting up. Highway 113 is the main "gateway" to the airport; you'll pass it just north of Aberg Avenue.

From flying to fly balls, the next attraction along Highway 113 - known as Sherman Avenue by now - is Warner Park, home to Madison's Northwoods League baseball team, the Madison Mallards. Often referred to as the "Duck Pond", the stadium holds 7,500 plus standing room for baseball games and offers up a dozen closed-circuit TVs so fans can monitor the game when they're not in their seats. A popular "B" List Celebrity Friday Nights promotion hosts everyone from Emmanuel Lewis (Webster from "Webster"), to Sonny Shroyer (Enos from "The Dukes of Hazzard" and, amazingly, an eponymous TV show spinoff for about 3 episodes) and William "The Refrigerator" Perry of the NFL Team That Shall Remain Nameless from South of the Border.

North of Madison through Waunakee, over the Merrimac Ferry and to Baraboo will be posted shortly!

CONNECTIONS
South Terminus:
Can connect immediately to: Highway 30, U.S. Highway 151
Can connect nearby to: Interstate 39/90/94, about 3 miles east; U.S. 51, about 2 miles east

North Terminus:
Can connect immediately to: Highway 33
Can connect nearby to: U.S. Highway 12, about 1 mile west

Upcoming events in places along Highway 113:
Capital City Jazz Fest, Madison, April 25-27, 2008
Great Midwest Alpaca Festival, Madison, April 25-27, 2008
Crazylegs Classic Run, Madison, April 26, 2008
Arboretum Walk, Madison, May 4, 2008
Arboretum Night Walk, Madison, May 17, 2008

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The start of Highway 113 via Google maps:
Highway 113 begins at the U.S. 151/1st Street intersection, then north on what shows as Pennsylvania Ave.

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