ToClearSkies

Live readout · Observed

Best-case air — go enjoy it

Clear skies over MadisonStick around.

Nothing cleaner nearby How we count it →

This is the lowest-risk outdoor baseline we can realistically reach.

2.8
PM2.5 µg/m³
16
US AQI
Good
Category
0.2
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³

Where are you?

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

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

You may already have the cleanest nearby air.No meaningfully cleaner place has a verified road route within 3 hours. Widen the range or show worse air for context.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Madison Low smoke · AQI 0–50 Some pollution · AQI 51–100 Unhealthy (sensitive) · AQI 101–150 Unhealthy+ · AQI 151+
Top pick
Wisconsin Dells
Cel-shaded illustration of Wisconsin Dells
#1Wisconsin DellsLow smoke · AQI 17Checking road route

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3 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 3 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
7% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Cedarburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Cedarburg
#2CedarburgLow smoke · AQI 19Checking road route

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.4 µg/m³

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

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 3.4 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.4/22 × 7 = 1.1 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
21% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Rockford
Cel-shaded illustration of Rockford
#3RockfordLow smoke · AQI 19Checking road route

Illinois· PM2.5 3.5 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 3.5 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.5/22 × 7 = 1.1 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
25% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Spring Green
Cel-shaded illustration of Spring Green
#4Spring GreenLow smoke · AQI 20Checking road route

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.6 µg/m³

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

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 3.6 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.6/22 × 7 = 1.1 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
29% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT

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

Still smoky
Milwaukee
Cel-shaded illustration of Milwaukee
#5MilwaukeeLow smoke · AQI 22~1 h 40 min drive

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³

A major Wisconsin 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 3.9 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.9/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
39% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Lake Geneva
Cel-shaded illustration of Lake Geneva
#6Lake GenevaLow smoke · AQI 22~1 h 40 min drive

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³

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

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 3.9 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.9/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
39% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:12 a.m. EDT

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

Still smoky
Fitchburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Fitchburg
#7FitchburgParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Still smoky
Waunakee
Cel-shaded illustration of Waunakee
#8WaunakeeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Still smoky
Verona
Cel-shaded illustration of Verona
#9VeronaParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Still smoky
Cottage Grove
Cel-shaded illustration of Cottage Grove
#10Cottage GroveParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Still smoky
Oregon
Cel-shaded illustration of Oregon
#11OregonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Still smoky
Windsor
Cel-shaded illustration of Windsor
#12WindsorParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Still smoky
Galena
Cel-shaded illustration of Galena
#13GalenaLow smoke · AQI 15~2 h 5 min drive

Illinois· PM2.5 2.7 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.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2.7 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.7/22 × 7 = 0.9 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Green Bay
Cel-shaded illustration of Green Bay
#14Green BayLow smoke · AQI 26~2 h 55 min drive

Wisconsin· PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³

A major Wisconsin 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 4.6 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.6/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
64% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Chicago
Cel-shaded illustration of Chicago
#15ChicagoLow smoke · AQI 31~3 h drive

Illinois· PM2.5 5.5 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 5.5 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.5/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 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

96% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Rome
Cel-shaded illustration of Rome
#16RomeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Still smoky
Viroqua
Cel-shaded illustration of Viroqua
#17ViroquaParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 0.9 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.

Lafayette
Cel-shaded illustration of Lafayette
#18LafayetteLow smoke · AQI 1Checking road routesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

Indiana· PM2.5 0.2 µg/m³

Indiana community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

93% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.2 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.2/22 × 7 = 0.1 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

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

93% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

Still smoky
Utica
Cel-shaded illustration of Utica
#19UticaLow smoke · AQI 8Checking road routesaves 0.4 cigs/wk

Illinois· PM2.5 1.4 µg/m³

Gateway to Starved Rock's sandstone canyons on the Illinois River, a wooded river-valley base with lodges.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1.4 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.4/22 × 7 = 0.4 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
50% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT

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

Still smoky
Springfield
Cel-shaded illustration of Springfield
#20SpringfieldLow smoke · AQI 11Checking road route

Ohio· PM2.5 1.9 µg/m³

Ohio community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1.9 µg/m³ here vs 2.8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.9/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
32% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

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

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.

Last scan Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT · 34 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 →
All 145 U.S. cities →

What this means · Madison

Clear skies!

0.9cigarettes

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.

2.8 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural air. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Exceptionally clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good, not pristine. 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 for sensitive. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Unhealthy. 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 2.8 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 2.8/22 × 7 = 0.9 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →