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3 cleaner spots within a 3-hour drive

Madison is breathing 4.0 cigarettes a week

12.5
PM2.5 µg/m³
57
AQI
2.1
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
See the 3 cleaner spots

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Lake Geneva looks like the better move.63% cleaner air with a verified 1 h 40 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Madison Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Cedarburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Cedarburg
#1CedarburgPM2.5 3.1Checking road routesaves 3.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.1 µg/m³

Historic mill town on Cedar Creek near Milwaukee, a walkable stone-building Main Street with inns.

75% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.1 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.1/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

75% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Milwaukee
Cel-shaded illustration of Milwaukee
#2MilwaukeePM2.5 3.7~1 h 40 min drivesaves 2.8 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.7 µg/m³

A major Wisconsin city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.7 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.7/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Lake Geneva
Cel-shaded illustration of Lake Geneva
#3Lake GenevaPM2.5 4.6~1 h 40 min drivesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³

Resort town on a spring-fed lake in southern Wisconsin, an easy open-water escape from Chicago, with lakeside resorts.

63% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.6 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.6/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

63% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Spring Green
Cel-shaded illustration of Spring Green
#4Spring GreenPM2.5 4.7Checking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 4.7 µg/m³

Driftless-region village on the Wisconsin River near House on the Rock, with hilly river-valley air.

62% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.7 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.7/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

62% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Wisconsin Dells
Cel-shaded illustration of Wisconsin Dells
#5Wisconsin DellsPM2.5 15.9Checking road route

Wisconsin· PM2.5 15.9 µg/m³

Sandstone-gorge resort town on the Wisconsin River, with a huge stock of hotels and river-valley air.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 15.9 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 15.9/22 × 7 = 5.1 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Madison

27% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Rockford
Cel-shaded illustration of Rockford
#6RockfordPM2.5 19.5Checking road route

Illinois· PM2.5 19.5 µg/m³

A major Illinois city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 19.5 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 19.5/22 × 7 = 6.2 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Madison

56% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Fitchburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Fitchburg
#7FitchburgParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Waunakee
Cel-shaded illustration of Waunakee
#8WaunakeeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Verona
Cel-shaded illustration of Verona
#9VeronaParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Cottage Grove
Cel-shaded illustration of Cottage Grove
#10Cottage GroveParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Oregon
Cel-shaded illustration of Oregon
#11OregonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Windsor
Cel-shaded illustration of Windsor
#12WindsorParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Chicago
Cel-shaded illustration of Chicago
#13ChicagoPM2.5 6.8~3 h drivesaves 1.8 cigs/wk

Illinois· PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³

A major Illinois city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

46% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.8 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.8/22 × 7 = 2.2 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

46% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Green Bay
Cel-shaded illustration of Green Bay
#14Green BayPM2.5 10.8~2 h 55 min drivesaves 0.5 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 10.8 µg/m³

A major Wisconsin city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10.8 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10.8/22 × 7 = 3.4 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
14% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Galena
Cel-shaded illustration of Galena
#15GalenaPM2.5 25.2~2 h 5 min drive

Illinois· PM2.5 25.2 µg/m³

Restored 19th-century town among the wooded bluffs of Illinois' driftless northwest, a hilly reset from the flatlands, with historic inns and B&Bs.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 25.2 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 25.2/22 × 7 = 8.0 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Madison

102% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Rome
Cel-shaded illustration of Rome
#16RomeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Viroqua
Cel-shaded illustration of Viroqua
#17ViroquaParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.0 cigs/wk

Wisconsin

Wisconsin community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Munising
Cel-shaded illustration of Munising
#18MunisingPM2.5 2.1Checking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

Michigan· PM2.5 2.1 µg/m³

Upper Peninsula town beside Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior, wrapped in the big lake's cool air, with lodges.

83% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2.1 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.1/22 × 7 = 0.7 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

10.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

83% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Glen Arbor
Cel-shaded illustration of Glen Arbor
#19Glen ArborPM2.5 2.3Checking road routesaves 3.2 cigs/wk

Michigan· PM2.5 2.3 µg/m³

Village beside Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan, wrapped in lakeshore air, with cottages and inns.

82% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2.3 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.3/22 × 7 = 0.7 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

10.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

82% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Sturgeon Bay
Cel-shaded illustration of Sturgeon Bay
#20Sturgeon BayPM2.5 3.3~3 h 50 min drivesaves 2.9 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.3 µg/m³

Door County's harbour city between the bay and Lake Michigan, wrapped in peninsula lake air, with inns and waterfront rentals.

74% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.3 µg/m³ here vs 12.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.3/22 × 7 = 1.1 here; 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Madison right now

74% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

All 54 Canadian cities →
TorontoMontréalVancouverCalgaryEdmontonOttawaWinnipegQuébec CityHamiltonKitchener-WaterlooLondonHalifaxVictoriaWindsorOshawaSaskatoonReginaSt. CatharinesKelownaBarrieSherbrookeGuelphAbbotsfordKingstonGreater SudburySaguenayTrois-RivièresMonctonSaint JohnSt. John'sThunder BayPeterboroughLethbridgeNanaimoKamloopsMississaugaBramptonSault Ste. MarieNorth BayWhitehorsePrince GeorgeFort McMurrayMedicine HatFrederictonYellowknifeChilliwackBellevilleBrantfordSurreyLavalMarkhamVaughanBurnabyRichmond
All 145 U.S. cities →
New York CityLos AngelesChicagoHoustonPhoenixPhiladelphiaSan AntonioSan DiegoDallasFort WorthJacksonvilleAustinSan JoseCharlotteColumbusIndianapolisSan FranciscoSeattleDenverWashington, D.C.NashvilleOklahoma CityBostonPortlandLas VegasDetroitMemphisLouisvilleBaltimoreMilwaukeeAlbuquerqueTucsonFresnoSacramentoAtlantaKansas CityColorado SpringsOmahaRaleighMiamiVirginia BeachMinneapolisTulsaTampaWichitaClevelandNew OrleansPittsburghCincinnatiSt. LouisOrlandoBuffaloSalt Lake CityRichmondBirminghamCharlestonProvidenceHartfordGrand RapidsEugeneBoiseSpokaneMissoulaBillingsBozemanRenoBakersfieldStocktonModestoRiversideSan BernardinoChicoReddingSalemMedfordBendYakimaAnchorageEl PasoAmarilloLubbockLittle RockBaton RougeShreveportJacksonMobileMontgomeryKnoxvilleLexingtonDaytonToledoAkronFort WayneDes MoinesGreen BayFargoSioux FallsRapid CityAlbanyRochesterSyracuseWorcesterSpringfieldAllentownHarrisburgNorfolkGreensboroWinston-SalemDurhamColumbiaGreenvilleAugustaTallahasseeSarasotaFort MyersSt. PetersburgSpringfieldBoulderFort CollinsProvoOgdenHonoluluCorpus ChristiBellinghamTacomaOlympiaYumaErieScrantonYoungstownCantonPeoriaRockfordTopekaPensacolaLafayetteBeaumontWacoMcAllenLaredoMesaArlingtonAuroraAnaheimHenderson

What this means · Madison

Phew.

4.0cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

12.5 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 12.5 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 12.5/22 × 7 = 4.0 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →