Is there a way to reach Madison from Chicago without a car?

You can travel between these two cities by bus or train. Both are easy and sustainable ways to travel to Madison. You can also use carpool services and share a car ride with other travelers.

How long does it take to get to Madison from Chicago by bus?

The average travel time from Chicago to Madison is about 3h 25m, although the fastest bus will take 1h 35m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 123 miles (199 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Chicago and Madison?

The distance between the two cities is 123 miles (199 km).

How frequently do buses run from Chicago to Madison each day?

On average, there are 2 daily departures on this route, offered by Coach USA, FlixBus and Greyhound. The number of buses from Chicago to Madison can differ depending on the day of the week. Busbud can make your trip from Chicago to Madison a breeze! Simply check the schedules and pick the bus that matches your style and budget. It's that easy!

At what times does the first and last bus depart from Chicago to Madison?

The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last one leaves at 11:50pm.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to Madison?

If you're headed to Madison from Chicago, chances are that your bus will depart from Downtown Greyhound Station and arrive at UW Memorial Union. These are the primary departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the most affordable way to get from Chicago to Madison?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, go for the bus. $32 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Madison from Chicago.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to Madison?

The average bus ticket price from Chicago to Madison is $41. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $32 to $66, so it's good to do your research before booking.

Is it possible to take a day trip from Chicago to Madison?

Yes, you can do a day trip from Chicago to Madison. The total travel time for the round-trip is about 3h 10m. So you'll have enough time to visit Madison before returning to Chicago in the evening.

Chicago to Madison (WI) Bus Tickets

TodayJan 22

from $39

TomorrowJan 23

from $30

FriJan 24

from $30

SatJan 25

from $30

SunJan 26

from $30

MonJan 27

from $30

TueJan 28

from $30

WedJan 29

from $30

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: January 23 at 2:30pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: January 23 at 6:35pm
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: North Lake St
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 4h 5m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: January 23 at 12:00am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Chicago O'Hare International Airport Multi-Modal Facility
Arrival time: January 23 at 2:35am
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: Madison WI - Dutch Mill Park-N-Ride (SMD)
Operated by: Coach USA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 35m
Departure time: January 23 at 6:15am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
Arrival time: January 23 at 9:50am
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Operated by: Amtrak
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 35m
Departure time: January 23 at 9:15am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: January 23 at 1:05pm
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: North Lake St
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 50m
Departure time: January 23 at 6:15am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: January 23 at 9:55am
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: Dutch Mill Park & Ride
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 40m

Accepted payments

Bus Chicago to Madison: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$41

Average bus trip duration3h 25m

Number of daily buses2

Earliest bus departure12:00am

Distance122 miles (196 km)

Latest bus departure11:50pm

Compare bus companies

Coach USA

4/5105 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness4.1

Cleanliness4.8

Wifi3.4

Users have highlighted the cleanliness and comfort of the buses, as well as professional and friendly staff. The convenient location at the airport is appreciated by travelers. However, there were mentions of rude behavior from some employees during check-in and issues with unclear signage outside buses leading to confusion about destinations.

Coach USA Chicago Madison recent customer reviews

I purchased two tickets received an email for one ticket twice and ended up buying one more ticket in order to get on the bus Very unhappy

Usamah S.

September 2, 2024

Convenient location at airport. Friendly staff. Clean bus. Would have appreciated correct destination indication above windshield outside the bus. Signage outside was poor. Bus arrived late to my destination due to extended stop at one point along our way.

Raymond B.

August 15, 2024

I lost my bag in the bus, and today I went to the office to pick it up, all the money and credit cards were there. The man from the office in Van Galder was very nice person. Thankyou for your service, very kind and honest. I need your service again next Friday to go back to O’hare.

Jorge B.

July 27, 2024

FlixBus

3.5/57,391 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.7

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Greyhound

3.5/586,769 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.6

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

Greyhound Chicago Madison recent customer reviews

Overal good except for there staff member Carl that sexually harassed me and another person I was sitting by

Alyssia P.

April 5, 2021

Passengers played loud music on the bus. Bathroom was dirty.

Noam L.

June 15, 2023

The bus were dirty, the driver were rude and no polite at all.

Hassell M.

March 6, 2019

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Los Limousines, Valley Transit, OurBus, New York Trailways, Wanda Coach

Chicago to Madison Buses

Busbud helps you find a bus from Chicago to Madison. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

Bus service from Chicago to Madison will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Madison from Chicago, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and Madison?

Stops in Chicago

A - Downtown Greyhound Station

B - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

C - Polk St & Canal St

D - Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave

E - Cumberland CTA

F - Turimex California Ave

Stops in Madison

A - UW Memorial Union

B - Dutch Mill Park & Ride

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - Madison

Is there a way to reach Madison from Chicago without a car?
How long does it take to get to Madison from Chicago by bus?
What is the distance between Chicago and Madison?
How frequently do buses run from Chicago to Madison each day?
At what times does the first and last bus depart from Chicago to Madison?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to Madison?
What is the most affordable way to get from Chicago to Madison?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to Madison?
Is it possible to take a day trip from Chicago to Madison?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

01/20

$39

01/21

$39

Today

$34

01/23

$30

01/24

$30

01/25

$30

01/26

$30

01/27

$30

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Madison was searched and found on Jan 23, 2025 with a price of $30

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Chicago to Madison, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $30 to $48 for a bus ticket from Chicago to Madison based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $30 which is on 2025-01-23.

Usually Amtrak will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Chicago and Madison!

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Chicago to Madison, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Chicago to Madison.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Chicago to Madison while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

The word 'bus' is an abbreviation of 'omnibus" which means 'for all' in Latin as buses were meant to be transportation for everybody.

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to Madison?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time3h 25m	Avg Price$41	Daily Departures2
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time4h 20m	Avg Price$52	Daily Departures1

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

Bus from Chicago to Madison

You can also go to Madison by train

Train from Chicago to Madison

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Bus Chicago to Madison: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Chicago to Madison Buses

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and Madison?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - Madison

Is there a way to reach Madison from Chicago without a car?

How long does it take to get to Madison from Chicago by bus?

What is the distance between Chicago and Madison?

How frequently do buses run from Chicago to Madison each day?

At what times does the first and last bus depart from Chicago to Madison?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to Madison?

What is the most affordable way to get from Chicago to Madison?

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to Madison?

Is it possible to take a day trip from Chicago to Madison?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to Madison?

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

You can also go to Madison by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Popular Buses Connecting Chicago

Buses Leaving from Chicago

Buses Going to Chicago

Popular Buses Connecting Madison

Buses Leaving from Madison

Buses Going to Madison

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers