Going to the airport can be stressful, but good and convenient food options, exciting shops and comfortable lounge spaces can make the experience better.
On Wednesday, USA TODAY released its 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in the airport category, revealing the best U.S. airports for bars, dining, shopping, grab-and-go food, lounges and more, based on reader votes. One Wisconsin airport, Madison’s Dane County Regional Airport, ranked among the top 10 best airports for shopping.
To determine the winners in “shopping” and other categories, USA TODAY 10Best invited a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite airports in each category. 10Best editors then vetted these nominations and selected a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for four weeks. Voting for the airport 10Best categories ran from Aug. 26 to Sept. 23.
While we’re disappointed that Milwaukee’s famous Recombobulation Area didn’t make any of the lists, here’s why Madison’s in-airport shopping ranked among the top 10.
Dane County airport is one of USA TODAY’s 10Best for shopping
Dane County Regional Airport is located on Madison’s northeast side. The airport recently underwent an $85 million, 90,000-square-foot expansion.
MSN’s four shops highlight local culture and offer a convenient opportunity for travelers to pick up one last souvenir before leaving Wisconsin.
Before heading through security, travelers can check out Lake Country Travel Mart, which sells cheeseheads, Wisconsi Badgers gear, magazines, books, grab-and-go food and more. After security, Madison XChange offers Badgers and Green Bay Packers gear, Wisconsin-inspired items, locally produced cheese, flight comfort items like neck pillows and more. Passengers can also borrow books through the store’s Read & Return program.
The Madison XPress/CNBC Temporary Kiosk also offers locally inspired specialty gifts, along with grab-and-go food, snacks, drinks and comfort items. Finally, Capital Commons sells a wide selection of gifts, as well as food, drinks and snacks.
All of MSN’s stores have generous hours, meaning early morning and late-night travelers don’t have to miss out on this uniquely Wisconsin shopping experience. According to the airport website, the three after-security shops open before 5 a.m. and close when the last nearby flight departs. Lake Country Travel Mart is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
USA TODAY 10Best airports for shopping in 2024
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) (Detroit, Mich.)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) (Orlando, Fla.)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) (Phoenix, Ariz.)
- Denver International Airport (DEN) (Denver, Colo.)
- Portland International Airport (PDX) (Portland, Ore.)
- Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) (Madison, Wis.)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) (Austin, Texas)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) (Dallas, Texas)
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) (St. Paul, Minn.)