Entire home

Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home

Family-friendly fun on the beach, with water park

Photo gallery for Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home

Another perfect sunset at the Cottage!
Exterior
Outdoor dining
Entry - Ahhhh! Welcome to Madison!
Kitchen and entry view

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61400 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
McFarland, WI
  • Place, Lake Waubesa
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Alliant Energy Center
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, University of Wisconsin-Madison
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Airport, Madison, WI (MSN-Dane County Regional)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home

Experience Madison & UW-Madison by staying in this ‘Coastal Living’ inspired lake front cottage. Downtown Madison and campus events are 15 minutes away, by car, Uber, or taxi. Fully licensed!

Relax on the wood deck that overlooks the lake, enjoy the large lawn, and go swimming, boating, fishing, or kayaking from the pier. Hiking and bike trails are practically right outside the back door. The new Lower Yahara River Trail is less than two blocks away; it connects McFarland to Madison and includes the longest boardwalk bridge constructed solely for non-motorized transportation in North America!

This beautiful, newly redesigned and rebuilt cottage on Lake Waubesa, in McFarland, Wisconsin is a 15 minute drive or Uber ride from downtown Madison, a 5 minute walk to restaurants, bars and shops in McFarland, and minutes away from the outdoor concerts, farmers markets, and other amazing activities Madison and the surrounding areas have to offer.

The living room, dining room, kitchen, first floor bedroom and the upstairs master bedroom have lake views and unparalleled sunsets.

Two first floor bedrooms, two contemporary bathrooms, a living room with TV, dining room with a large table for easy entertaining, and an entry mud room. The upstairs master bedroom has vintage wood beams and the best sunset views on Lake Waubesa. The charming, fully-equipped gourmet kitchen has white cupboards, granite counter tops, and is outfitted with stainless steel appliances that include a dishwasher. All rooms are very spacious.

Huge windows offer breathtaking views of the lake from almost every room. The illuminated Wisconsin State Capitol can be seen at night — along with other lights that twinkle around the lake.

This quintessential lake home — recently renovated by a renowned local interior designer —honors the aesthetics of lake living with vintage furnishings, nautical accessories, comfy furniture, and soft grey colors.

Boat owners are responsible for any damages to the dock. Pets are not allowed for any reason and can result in forfeiture of the entire deposit.

Also note that we are limited to six total guests; this includes overnights, parties and / or events at the property. This is controlled by village ordinance and limited by the owner for the comfort of all our guests. ANY LEASE VIOLATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO THE FORFEITURE OF THE ENTIRE DEPOSIT.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Beach view

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Place used sheets, towels on main bathroom floor.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Please follow the check-out procedure as listed in the binder on the kitchen counter.
Violation of these rules will result in forfeiture of the security deposit.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

McFarland

Located in McFarland, this cottage is on the beach. Barrymore Theatre and Madison Museum of Contemporary Art are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Memorial Union Terrace and Wisconsin Union Theater. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Alliant Energy Center or Camp Randall Stadium. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
McFarland, WI

What's nearby

  • Lake Waubesa - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Alliant Energy Center - 9 min drive - 11.7 km
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison - 13 min drive - 14.9 km
  • Kohl Center - 13 min drive - 14.9 km
  • Camp Randall Stadium - 14 min drive - 16.3 km

Getting around

  • Madison Station - 13 min drive
  • Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Parkside Pub - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Maple Tree - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Christy's Landing - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Madison & ~UW~-Madison Area Lakefront Home located?

Nestled on the beach, this McFarland cottage is within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Waubesa, Capital Springs State Recreation Area and Aldo Leopold Nature Center. McFarland Dog Park and Monona Dog Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 188 out of 201 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 201 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 201 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 201 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 201 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful home, impeccably clean. House had everything we needed for a weekend getaway. Would definitely stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elisabeth S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was a lovely peaceful house. We enjoyed watching movies in the comfortable living room, and the beautiful view of the lake.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Place is gorgeous. The home is spotless and so convenient to Madison. Cannot recommend highly enough.
View from lake looking back to the house
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jody G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a lovely place to spend a few days with family! There was so much to do within a short distance but we loved being able to just chill on the water. We had a wonderful stay and can’t wait to visit again. Would highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jackie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful house. Immaculate. Great location
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andy R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely place and, despite road construction, very convenient to Madison.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amber N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a lovely home with great design. We enjoyed 3 days of fishing, exploring Madison and relaxing on the back deck. Fantastic accommodations all around and especially amazing for my 2 year old who was spoiled with her own room, pack n play and loved running around the backyard.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Clean and comfy cottage getaway

The cottage is a great location, hiking trail, restaurants and pubs in walking distance, and short drive to Madison. It is well-furnished, comfortable and is located on the water with great views. My friends and I would highly recommend this property.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katherine B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great!

Enjoyed the stay — great access to nature and got a beautiful sunset!!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean place, really nice lake view, pretty well stocked. Lots of mosquitos on back porch, impossible to keep out of house when using grill at night with porch light on. Went in/out of back porch door as quick as possible, but lots of mosquitos came in. Had to use the vacuum cleaner several times to suck them all in and prevent them from going further into the house. The long tongs in the kitchen proved to really be useless for grilling; would be nice to have much sturdier grill tongs.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peter W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautifully located westerly views, the lake cottage is placed perfectly lakeside for watersports or just staring at the water and sunsets. The kitchen is much better furnished than most and we were in need of nothing. The beds and all the furniture are very comfortable. The main sitting room has numerous light-filling windows. There is a table and sitting area on the front deck for mornings. We spent most of the daytime and through sunset on the back porch with its nicely sized table and chairs or the adirondack chairs overlooking the lake. Our host was superbly helpful with the whole process and also suggestions for the greater Madison area. We are very thankful for our stay and highly recommend this lakeside cottage close to Madison, Wisconsin!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brooke M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home

We had a wonderful weekend here with family. A beautiful place to stay with gorgeous views of the lake. The house was super clean and felt like home. We cannot wait to go back again! Jennifer was amazing!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Arshish K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Superb stay

Gorgeous lakefront location. Upscale interiors. Well equipped. Very clean and well-maintained. 12 minutes to downtown. Kind and responsive hosts. What could be better?
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alex L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great long weekend stay

Beautiful property and not far from downtown Madison. Close to some nice golf courses and clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stacy N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Couldn't have been better

The house was lovely and well appointed. Happy to see a suitcase stand in each bedroom. Sunsets from the backyard or dock were amazing. It was a short drive to the Capital and the good vibes of that area, especially Saturday's Farmers' Market. It was great to retreat back to the serenity of the lake house and the neighborhood. I've never spent so much time at "the house", but on this trip we made it our intention to take it slow. What a wonderful property to do so!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brigitte P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas Beach House

This house was ideal. Jennifer decorated it for Christmas and it was just perfect! The size, space, decorations and location were just want we wanted. I would highly recommend this spot.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lora G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy Lake Home

What a great place on the lake! Such a beautiful view and cozy indoor space. Will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alison O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

4th stay - always great

Wonderful property, stayed the long weekend of Madison graduation weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catlin S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Madison lake house

Great stay
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gurmala T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Thanksgiving Stay

The lake cottage was absolutely beautiful!! The home was very clean and organized and not to mention the amazing views!! The host was great at responding to any questions we had too. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Liz L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing lakefront home

Beautiful lakefront home in McFarland, near Madison WI. My family loved our relaxing weekend!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kari L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Lake Vacation

Beautiful views, happy kids, great fishing, wish we could have stayed longer. Thank you for a wonderful time and new core memories!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenifer C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice weekend on the lake.

It’s a beautiful place. We enjoyed our stay. I would recommend bringing eye patches, the main bedroom is bright in the morning.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Johanna H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous views, cozy house!

Stayed here with friends while we participated in a nearby curling tournament. The house was cozy, clean, and comfortable, with absolutely stunning sunset views over the peaceful lake. Easy to get to Madison, and super close to the Madison Curling Club. Would definitely book again!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ken H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Guys Football Weekend

Great location and very nice place. Will definitely stay again in the future when the time is right. Thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

About the host

Hosted by Jennifer

Host profile image
Locally renowned interior designer has long owned a 100-year old family home and cottage in the area.

Why they chose this property

- 2 hours from Chicago
- 15 minutes from downtown Madison, the state capitol, UW campus, State Street, Camp Randall, the Farmer’s Market
- 5 minutes away from the Village of McFarland — grocery stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, drug store, restaurants, and gas stations, etc.
- less than 2 blocks from the new Lower Yahara River Trail, connecting McFarland to the Madison area's vast network of bike paths
- Internet / wifi & NetFlix
- California closets
- Lake pier
- Additional Street parking
- No pets
- Wheel chair accessible
- Non-Smoking
- Minimum Age Limit: 25
- Children welcome
- Sleeps 6
Access to Madison by boat or bicycle. Wrought iron beds, wicker baskets, a twig bench, and retro light fixtures are a few of the authentic details.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests