Our Area

Wrapped around the eastern shore of Lake Monona and divided by the Yahara River, our community offers some of the best water access to relaxing beaches, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking. A plethora of famous photos of the State Capitol and Frank Lloyd Wright’s legendary Monona Terrace as viewed across Lake Monona from our shoreline are what Monona residents experience daily, but never take for granted. The distant calls of trumpeter swans from the lake evoke a serenity that doesn’t often exist in urban communities. In Monona, you’re never far from the waterfront and its natural, effortless beauty.

Historically, Monona was developed as a resort community with cottages and resorts lining the lakeshore. That resort-community feel still exists today, especially in the summer months when you see people portaging their kayaks and canoes down the city streets headed for the lake. Our quaint city of about 8,000 residents is surrounded by the city of Madison and Lake Monona. We are home to the most popular bike route in Dane County, the Monona Lake Loop, a 12-mile ride that circles Lake Monona and takes riders through downtown Madison.

The Monona East Side community is minutes away from downtown Madison, the Dane County Regional Airport, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison College, and numerous eclectic neighborhoods located throughout the east side of Madison, like Williamson Street, Atwood Avenue, and East Washington Avenue. The Monona East Side community is also home to numerous music festivals and food festivals in the Madison area.

We invite you to visit our beaches, bike the Monona Lake Loop, kayak the Yahara River, savor our cuisine, and visit our unique shops. Explore the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Olbrich Botanical Gardens in summer and winter for endless recreational opportunities.