Is there a way to reach Madison from La Crosse without a car?

Both buses and trains are available for traveling between these two cities. Both are convenient and eco-friendly 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 La Crosse by bus?

Traveling from La Crosse to Madison takes about 3h 20m on average, but the fastest bus can get you there in about 2h 15m. This is the time it takes to travel the 106 miles (171 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between La Crosse and Madison?

La Crosse and Madison are 106 miles (171 km) apart.

What is the most affordable way to get from La Crosse to Madison?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, choose the bus. The lowest tickets for this trip cost as little as $26.

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

The bus ticket costs $32 on average. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $26 to $36, so it's good to do your research before booking.

Is it possible to take a day trip from La Crosse to Madison?

Yes, a day trip from La Crosse to Madison is definitely doable. The total travel time for the round-trip is about 4h 30m. This allows for plenty of time to explore the sights in Madison before returning to La Crosse in the evening.

La Crosse (WI) to Madison (WI) Bus Tickets

SatApr 26

from $25

SunApr 27

from $25

MonApr 28

from $25

TueApr 29

from $29

WedApr 30

from $29

ThuMay 1

FriMay 2

SatMay 3

Cheap buses leaving Sunday

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: April 27 at 2:30pm
Departure city: La Crosse
Departure location: La Crosse MTU Transit Center
Arrival time: April 27 at 4:50pm
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Operated by: Jefferson Lines
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 20m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: April 27 at 2:35pm
Departure city: La Crosse
Departure location: 632 17th Street North
Arrival time: April 27 at 4:50pm
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Operated by: Jefferson Lines
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 15m
Departure time: April 27 at 4:00pm
Departure city: La Crosse
Departure location: La Crosse St Andrew St
Arrival time: April 27 at 7:30pm
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: Madison WI - Univ. of Wisc. Wisconsin Hist. Soc. (MSN)
Operated by: Megabus US
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 30m
Departure time: April 27 at 2:35pm
Departure city: La Crosse
Departure location: 632 17th Street North
Arrival time: April 27 at 4:50pm
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Operated by: Jefferson Lines
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2h 15m
Departure time: April 27 at 4:10pm
Departure city: La Crosse
Departure location: La Crosse WI - University of Wisconsin (LSW)
Arrival time: April 27 at 7:30pm
Destination city: Madison
Destination location: Madison WI - Univ. of Wisc. Wisconsin Hist. Soc. (MSN)
Operated by: Megabus US
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 20m

Accepted payments

Bus La Crosse to Madison: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$32

Average bus trip duration3h 20m

Number of daily buses3

Earliest bus departure2:30pm

Distance107 miles (172 km)

Latest bus departure4:10pm

Compare bus companies

Megabus

3.5/5370 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.6

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.3

Traveling with Megabus from La Crosse to Madison is an affordable and reliable way to reach your destination. The company provides amenities like comfortable seats and free Wi-Fi (on most buses), ensuring a comfortable journey. Discover an easy and budget-friendly travel option to Madison with Megabus. Tickets start at just $32.00, with an average price of around $34.00, making it an accessible choice for travelers.

Megabus US La Crosse Madison recent customer reviews

The bus driver was very kind, the bus was clean, safe and comfortable ride :)

Allie N.

February 23, 2024

Jefferson Lines

4/5748 reviews

Staff5

Timeliness5

Cleanliness5

Wifi5

According to customer reviews, there have been complaints about the bus driver being very late and displaying rude and unprofessional behavior. Additionally, some customers reported that the driver pulled over on the side of the highway to use the restroom. There were also mentions of a late bus with a swerving driver and passengers smoking weed during the ride. However, it's worth noting that some customers appreciated that buses were on time but emphasized the importance of adhering to COVID-19 safety measures onboard.

Jefferson Lines La Crosse Madison recent customer reviews

Late bus, driver was swerving the whole time. People were smoking weed part of the ride. Not good.

Evan B.

February 12, 2023

Bus driver was very late and then was rude, talked disrespectfully for absolutely no reason and unprofessional once she arrived. She then pulled over on the side of the highway to use the restroom.

Jasmyn T.

December 22, 2022

Had to wait an extra 15 minutes in the cold and couldn’t feel my feet the entire ride back to Madison because of it

Lucas H.

February 11, 2021

Amtrak

4/55,074 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5074 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the wifi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $36.00

Amtrak La Crosse Madison recent customer reviews

It was nice but we stopped in two cities and didn’t drop anyone off which was peculiar

Jacob W.

February 18, 2023

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

La Crosse to Madison Bus

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

Bus service from La Crosse 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 La Crosse, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Frequently asked questions for your trip La Crosse - Madison

Is there a way to reach Madison from La Crosse without a car?
How long does it take to get to Madison from La Crosse by bus?
What is the distance between La Crosse and Madison?
What is the most affordable way to get from La Crosse to Madison?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from La Crosse to Madison?
Is it possible to take a day trip from La Crosse 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

04/22

$29

04/23

$25

Today

$29

04/25

$29

04/26

$25

04/27

$25

04/28

$25

04/29

$29

The cheapest trip from La Crosse to Madison was searched and found on Apr 23, 2025 with a price of $25

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

You can expect to pay from $25 to $33 for a bus ticket from La Crosse to Madison based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $25 which is on 2025-04-26.

Usually MEUS - CUWI 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 La Crosse and Madison!

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from La Crosse 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 La Crosse to Madison.

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

Did you know?

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

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

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

What's the cheapest way to go from La Crosse to Madison?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time3h 20m	Avg Price$32	Daily Departures3
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time10h 13m	Avg Price$145	Daily Departures5

Will you be returning to La Crosse by bus?

Bus from La Crosse to Madison

You can also go to Madison by train

Train from La Crosse 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.

Bus Tickets from La Crosse, WI to Madison, WI

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving Sunday

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Bus La Crosse to Madison: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Megabus US La Crosse Madison recent customer reviews

Jefferson Lines La Crosse Madison recent customer reviews

Amtrak La Crosse Madison recent customer reviews

La Crosse to Madison Bus

Frequently asked questions for your trip La Crosse - Madison

Is there a way to reach Madison from La Crosse without a car?

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

What is the distance between La Crosse and Madison?

What is the most affordable way to get from La Crosse to Madison?

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

Is it possible to take a day trip from La Crosse to Madison?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

What's the cheapest way to go from La Crosse to Madison?

Will you be returning to La Crosse 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 La Crosse

Buses Leaving from La Crosse

Buses Going to La Crosse

Popular Buses Connecting Madison

Buses Leaving from Madison

Buses Going to Madison

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers