Chicago to Madison Route
 

We are attending a wedding in Madison, WI and will be flying in/out of Chicago, spending some time there after the festivities. Two routes to Madison are suggested - north towards Milwaukee, or west through Rockford. They both seem to be about the same mileage/time spans. Any suggestions for which would be most interesting, or should we go one way and return the other? We have almost a full day to travel in each direction, and already have hotel res in both cities, so stopovers are not on the agenda.
Thanks for advice.

I have always gone through Rockford.

Noonan's, at the Aldeen Golf Club is a nice place to take a break for a snack or meal.

http://www.aldeengolfclub.com/

then for a hole in the wall tasty treat try David's Jamaican Cuisine in Madison

http://www.yelp.com/biz/davids-jamaican-cuisine-monona

I'd think it's about 30 minutes shorter to go through Rockford.

Lots of road construction south of Milwaukee now, so definately take Rockford for now

Thanks, looks like we'll go via Rockford!