Skydiving near Madison
Skydive Midwest offers tandem skydiving near Madison, Wisconsin — about 90 minutes east on I-94 in Sturtevant. Jumps launch from 14,500 feet with 60+ seconds of freefall and Lake Michigan views. Pricing starts at $229 weekday / $259 weekend with no weight surcharge up to 250 lbs. Season runs April through October.
Skydive Midwest is about 90 minutes east of Madison — a straight shot down I-94 to Sturtevant, Wisconsin. Easy drive, no tolls, and worth every mile.
Closer runways exist. But closer doesn't mean higher. We jump from 14,500 feet — that's a full 60 seconds of freefall, not 30. We don't charge weight surcharges at any weight. We're family-owned, veteran-owned, and we've been here since 2004. And on a clear day, you'll see Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee skyline, and the Chicago skyline — all at once.
If you're looking for tandem skydiving near Madison, here's everything you need to know.
What to Expect on Your Tandem Skydive
Your tandem skydive starts with a ground training session. That's about 15-20 minutes where your instructor walks you through body position, the jump sequence, and what to expect. No experience needed. In fact, your instructor handles everything that matters.
After training, you gear up and board the aircraft. The ride to 14,500 feet takes about 15 minutes. On a clear day, the views alone are worth the drive. Lake Michigan stretches east. The Milwaukee skyline sits to the north. You can even spot Chicago on the southern horizon.
At altitude, you and your instructor move to the door. Three seconds later, you're in freefall.
Freefall — 60 Seconds at 120 MPH
Freefall lasts about 60 seconds. It doesn't feel like falling — and it's nothing like a roller coaster. The aircraft is already at speed when you exit, so there's no stomach drop. Instead, it feels like floating on a column of 120 mph wind. It's loud, it's overwhelming, and 60 seconds isn't nearly enough.
Then, at around 5,500 feet, your instructor deploys the parachute.
Canopy Ride — 5-7 Minutes
The canopy ride lasts 5-7 minutes. This is the part nobody expects to love. You catch your breath, take in the view, and your instructor may let you steer the canopy. Better yet, it's quiet enough to have a conversation. Then you come in for a smooth landing on the grass.
The Full Day
The whole process — check-in to landing — takes about 4-6 hours. In fact, most of that is wait time, not jump time. Weekday and early morning bookings have the shortest waits. So plan to spend the day. We've got plenty to do while you wait (more on that below).
Tandem Skydiving Pricing
We keep it simple.
- $229 — Weekday (with reservation)
- $259 — Weekend (with reservation)
- $299 — Walk-in (any day)
A $20 deposit reserves your spot. The deposit applies to your remaining balance on jump day. Our season runs April through October — book early, because weekends fill up fast.
No hidden fees. No weight surcharges at any weight up to our 250 lb limit. In fact, most dropzones charge $25 to $100+ extra if you're over 200 lbs. We don't. Same price, same experience, same equipment regardless of your weight. Read more about our weight limit policy →
Video Packages
Three options. All include 3 fully edited videos — a social media short, a highlight reel, and a full edit from ground to landing. Plus photos. And we deliver everything same-day.
- Hand Cam — $99
Your instructor wears a wrist-mounted camera and captures the entire jump from their perspective — exit, freefall, canopy, and landing. - Premium — $136.50 (most popular)
A separate outside videographer jumps alongside you with a dedicated helmet camera. You get dynamic footage of yourself in freefall that hand cam alone can't capture. - Extreme — $189
Both hand cam and outside videographer combined. Every angle, every moment. Maximum coverage.
So if you're doing this once, get the video. Book your media package when you make your reservation.
Group Rates
Graduating from UW? Bachelor party? Just rounding up the crew? We've got group pricing:
- 3-5 people: $229/person
- 6-10 people: $219/person (organizer jumps for $199)
- 11+ people: $209/person (organizer jumps for $189)
All group rates work for weekday and weekend jumps. Call us at (262) 886-3480 to set up your group booking.
Getting Here from Madison
Skydive Midwest is in Sturtevant, Wisconsin — about 90 minutes east of downtown Madison on I-94.
Directions
- Take I-94 East toward Milwaukee
- Continue on I-94 South past Milwaukee
- Take Exit 333 (Highway 11 / Durand Ave) — head west
- Turn right on 56th Road
- We're at 13851 56th Road, Sturtevant, WI 53177
From the west side or Middleton: About 95-100 minutes.
From Sun Prairie or the east side: About 85 minutes.
From Janesville: About 50 minutes.
While You're Here
Because skydiving takes time, plan to spend the day. But we've built a place worth hanging out — before your jump and after. Bring everyone, even the ones who aren't jumping.
- 80-foot observation deck — Watch skydivers land from the best seat in the house. Great for friends and family who came to watch.
- 14K Kitchen — Our on-site food truck with solid options for pre- and post-jump meals.
- Full-service bar — For after you jump. Not before.
- Sand volleyball court — Because you might have a few hours to kill.
- Cornhole and yard games
- Lockers — Leave your phone, wallet, and keys on the ground while you jump.
- Picnic tables and community grills
Non-jumpers love it here too.
Ready to Jump?
14,500 feet. 60 seconds of freefall. And no surprises on the bill.
Book Your Madison-Area Tandem Skydive →
Just a $20 deposit to reserve. Rain checks never expire if weather cancels your day. Questions? Call us at (262) 886-3480.
What to Expect on Your Tandem Skydive
Your tandem skydive starts with a ground training session. That's about 15-20 minutes where your instructor walks you through body position, the jump sequence, and what to expect. No prior experience needed. Your instructor handles everything that matters.
After training, you gear up and board the aircraft. The ride to 14,500 feet takes about 15 minutes. The views on the way up are half the experience. Lake Michigan stretches north, the Chicago skyline sits to the south, and farmland rolls out in every direction.
At altitude, you and your instructor move to the door. Three seconds later, you're in freefall.
Freefall — 60 Seconds at 120 MPH
Freefall lasts about 60 seconds. It doesn't feel like falling. There's no stomach drop. The aircraft is already moving at speed when you exit, so you don't feel any sudden acceleration. Instead, it feels more like floating on a column of wind at 120 mph. It's loud, it's intense, and it's over way too fast.
At around 5,500 feet, your instructor deploys the parachute.
Canopy Ride — 5-7 Minutes
The canopy ride lasts 5-7 minutes. Catch your breath, take in the view, and your instructor may let you steer. Under canopy, it's quiet enough to have a conversation. Then you come in for a smooth landing on the grass.
The Full Day
The whole process — check-in to landing — takes about 4-6 hours. Most of that is wait time, not jump time. Weekday and early morning bookings have the shortest waits. Plan to spend the day. We've got plenty to do while you wait (more on that below).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Understandably, you might have some questions about throwing yourself out of an airplane! We’ve answered many of them below. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please send us a message. We’d love to hear from you.
About 90 minutes east of downtown Madison on I-94. Take I-94 east toward Milwaukee, continue south past the city, and exit at 333 (Highway 11). From the west side or Middleton, add about 10 minutes. From Sun Prairie or the east side, it's closer to 85 minutes. From Janesville, about 50 minutes.
Yes — three packages: Hand Cam ($99), Premium ($136.50, most popular), and Extreme ($189). Every package includes 3 professionally edited videos plus photos, all delivered same-day. The Premium package gives you a dedicated outside videographer jumping alongside you for the best footage. Book your media package when you make your reservation.
Last updated: February 2026