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Monroe Street: history, parks and places to start on Madison's near west side

Monroe Street runs southwest from Camp Randall Stadium toward Lake Wingra and the UW Arboretum. It is the main street of the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood and borders Vilas and the Regent Street area. This guide follows how the city, the neighborhood association and the Monroe Street Merchants Association describe it. For a tour of the whole city, see our Madison neighborhoods guide; for other shopping districts, see our shopping guide.

Checked against official sources · Updated November 11, 2026

What the street is like

A planning study prepared in 2004 by the Dudgeon-Monroe and Vilas neighborhood associations and the Monroe Street Merchants Association, and posted by the City of Madison, calls the district a one-of-a-kind Madison asset. It covers about a mile from Regent Street to Odana Road and describes three clusters of businesses:

  • Monroe-Regent (the 1500 to 1900 blocks): anchored by Camp Randall Stadium, with the feel of a neighborhood main street. The study lists a bank, library, pharmacy, grocery store, galleries and restaurants.
  • Monroe-Commonwealth (the 2500 to 2700 blocks): anchored by Wingra Park, a mix of old and new buildings.
  • Monroe-Glenway (the 3200 to 3600 blocks): anchored by the UW Arboretum, with community services and neighborhood businesses.

The study notes independent businesses with few chains. The Monroe Street Merchants Association today describes more than a mile and a half of locally owned shops, restaurants and service businesses.

A short history

The Dudgeon-Monroe Neighborhood Association says the area's history goes back to Native Americans in the Late Woodland period, more than a thousand years ago, and that development began in the late 19th century. The City of Madison's historic walking tour of the neighborhood adds some dates:

  • 1853 and 1858: the sandstone and brick sections of the Plough Inn at 3402 Monroe, built as a tavern and stagecoach stop on the old Monroe Road. The city planning study notes that the Plough Inn (now Arbor House) is a city landmark.
  • 1907: Leonard Gay's Wingra Land Company bought the Marston farm and platted about 400 lots. A five-cent bus ran from the Capitol Square to Monroe Street to attract buyers.
  • 1927: Dudgeon Elementary School opened on Monroe Street.

The Dudgeon-Monroe Neighborhood Association says it was founded in the early 1970s after the school board proposed closing Dudgeon School, which is now Wingra School. It describes the neighborhood as bordered by Lake Wingra, Odana Road, the Southwest Shared Use Path and Monroe Street, representing about 1,500 households.

Reconstruction: the city's project page shows Monroe Street was resurfaced from Odana Road to Leonard Street and reconstructed from Leonard Street to Regent Street in 2018, reopening to two-way traffic in November of that year. The work included new pavement, sidewalks, utilities and lighting, and the permanent closing of Crazylegs Lane to create a new public space.

Camp Randall and game days

Camp Randall Stadium sits at the street's east end, and the planning study calls it an entry point to the district. On Badgers football game days the stadium area gets busy. For the 2025 season opener, the city announced closures of Breese Terrace and Monroe Street between Randall Avenue and Regent Street from about 2 p.m. until roughly 1 a.m., and no-parking restrictions on westbound Monroe and Regent. Those details change from game to game, so check the city's current notice. Our Badgers game day guide has more on getting to and from games.

Vilas Park, Lake Wingra and the Arboretum

Monroe Street is a short trip from the lake and its parks.

  • Wingra Park: 11.76 acres on Lake Wingra at 824 Knickerbocker St., with a playground, fields, a canoe and kayak launch, fishing and watercraft rentals through Wingra Boats.
  • Henry Vilas Park: about 45.67 acres on the north shore of Lake Wingra, bordering the UW Arboretum and the Henry Vilas Zoo. The city lists a beach without lifeguards, fishing piers, three playgrounds and winter ice skating.

See also our parks guide and things to do with kids.

The Monroe Street Festival and other events

The Monroe Street Merchants Association organizes the Monroe Street Festival, an annual event on the street. A 2025 event listing called that year's festival its 47th, and the association's page now lists the 48th annual festival for Saturday, September 26, 2026. The 2025 listing describes street sales, free outdoor performances and kids' activities. The association's site also lists monthly First Fridays. A Monroe Street Farmers' Market listing is also in our directory, and our farmers markets guide has the season details.

Getting there

Metro's route descriptions list Routes D1 and D2 as running along Monroe, and Route D has a "Monroe at Glenway" timepoint. Schedules and detours change, so check Metro's route planner. Our getting around guide covers buses and bikes, and the Southwest Shared Use Path runs along the neighborhood's edge.

Places to start on Monroe Street

These are businesses in our directory with a Monroe Street address. Descriptions come from their directory listings; hours and menus change, so check with each one.

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Sources

Rules and dates can change. Check the official source before you rely on them, and suggest a correction if something is out of date.