How much is the bus ticket from Chicago to Madison?

The cheapest bus tickets from Chicago to Madison start from $28. The average price for this route is around $41. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Chicago to Madison?

The average bus trip duration from Chicago to Madison is 3h 35m, covering a distance of 117 miles (189 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 35m and is operated by Coach USA .

Which bus companies service the Chicago to Madison route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 68 buses available per day, including services from Coach USA , Amtrak , FlixBus , Greyhound , Jefferson Lines .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Chicago to Madison?

The earliest bus departs from Chicago to Madison at 12:00am. And the latest bus departs at 11:15pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Chicago to Madison?

A bus trip from Chicago to Madison generates an estimated 5 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Chicago to Madison?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5759 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Chicago to Madison?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the most timely service from Chicago to Madison?

According to Busbud traveler reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is Coach USA , with a punctuality rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Chicago to Madison?

According to Busbud traveler reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Coach USA , with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Bus Chicago to Madison from $18 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

More dates

Next departures for Chicago to Madison on February 28
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	Bus	12:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	3h 20m	3:50pm	North Lake St	Cheapest
	Bus	12:00am	Chicago O'Hare International Airport Multi-Modal Facility	2h 35m	2:35am	Madison WI - Dutch Mill Park-N-Ride (SMD)	Fastest
	Bus	6:00am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	3h 50m	9:50am	University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center	No tags
	Bus	9:00am	Downtown Greyhound Station	3h 45m	12:45pm	North Lake St	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	7:10am	N Cumberland Ave	5h 35m	12:45pm	North Lake St	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 10:43 PM CST.

View all departures

Get from Chicago to Madison

This route is served by bus only

The journey takes about 3 hours 35 minutes and with fares starting at just $28, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

68bus per day

3h 35mAverage Duration

117 milesDistance

5kgCO₂ emissions

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and Madison?

Stops in Chicago

A
Downtown Greyhound Station
630 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Visit page
B
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Visit page
C
Polk St & Canal St
500-536 W Polk St, Chicago IL 60607, USA
D
Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave
2807 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60623, USA
E
Cumberland CTA
5800 N Cumberland Ave, Chicago, IL 60631, USA
F
Turimex California Ave
2139 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

Stops in Madison

A
UW Memorial Union
800 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53715, USA
B
Dutch Mill Park & Ride
4 Collins Ct, Madison, WI 53716, USA

Compare bus companies

Coach USA

4/5187 reviews

Staff4.5

Timeliness4.1

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.5

The reviews highlight a positive experience with the bus service, emphasizing punctuality and cleanliness. Passengers appreciated the professional and friendly staff, as well as clear instructions provided for travel. However, some users noted issues such as unclear signage outside buses and discrepancies regarding ticket printing requirements in emails. Overall, travelers found their journeys comfortable and efficient.

Coach USA Chicago Madison recent customer reviews

maybe the worst travel experience I have ever endured. after taking my flight was expected to wait over 4 hours for a bus that they couldnt even gurantee would get me to my location. Was an absolute joke - ended up waiting and hour then just calling and uber from chicago to madison because the entire bus situation was such a disaster.

Richard C.

December 3, 2025

I was very happy with the service.. I was met at bay 6/7 by a very helpful assistant who made sure everybody was taken care of and got their bus. He even made a phone call to my friend as I could not use my phone...

Mary N.

August 10, 2025

Disappointing. My bus was over an hour behind schedule because she was caught in traffic in downtown Chicago. Never the less, it added so much extra time to a very long day of travel…now that the bus terminal is far from where I get off the plane after yesterday’s grueling experience I won’t be doing the direct to Chicago flight-take the bus to Madison anymore. It used to be so easy. Not any more.

Kathy P.

May 23, 2025

Amtrak

4/55,762 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Customers generally found the booking process easy and appreciated the friendly and helpful drivers. The bus was almost on time, though some felt that directions at Union Station in Chicago could have been clearer. A few reviews mentioned overbooking issues, resulting in some passengers having to stand during their journey.

Amtrak Chicago Madison recent customer reviews

I guess they had sold too many tickets: the bus was full and some people had to stand.

Annastiina L.

August 3, 2022

Overall a good experience, however the directions on where to board the bus at Union Station in Chicago could have been more clear. Would have been helpful if it simply said somewhere to board on Canal Street.

Justin W.

June 16, 2022

Comfortable, on time

Philip H.

October 23, 2025

FlixBus

3.5/512,255 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

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.

FlixBus Chicago Madison recent customer reviews

Terrible first experience with FlixBus. The bus barely paused at the station and didn't stop long enough for me to board. Customer service just blames me and wants to argue semantics instead of trying to help a customer. I will never use this service again and advise others to book elsewhere.

Justin C.

May 3, 2025

very good! driver was nice and we knew rules

Jovana S.

March 31, 2025

Greyhound

3.5/587,524 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.4

Wifi2.5

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

Jefferson Lines

4/5766 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.7

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi2.3

US bus companies:FlixBus, Greyhound, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Chicago to Madison, WI by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from Chicago to Madison?
The cheapest bus tickets from Chicago to Madison start from $28. The average price for this route is around $41. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Chicago to Madison?
The average bus trip duration from Chicago to Madison is 3h 35m, covering a distance of 117 miles (189 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 35m and is operated by Coach USA.
Which bus companies service the Chicago to Madison route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 68 buses available per day, including services from Coach USA, Amtrak, FlixBus, Greyhound, Jefferson Lines.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Chicago to Madison?
The earliest bus departs from Chicago to Madison at 12:00am. And the latest bus departs at 11:15pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Chicago to Madison?
A bus trip from Chicago to Madison generates an estimated 5 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Chicago to Madison?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5759 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Chicago to Madison?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the most timely service from Chicago to Madison?
According to Busbud traveler reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is Coach USA, with a punctuality rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Chicago to Madison?
According to Busbud traveler reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Coach USA, with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

02/23

$39

02/24

$39

Today

$39

02/26

$30

02/27

$30

02/28

$26

03/01

$30

03/02

$25

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Madison, WI was searched and found on Mar 2, 2026 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 Chicago to Madison, WI, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $25 to $179 for a bus ticket from Chicago to Madison, WI based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $25 which is on 2026-03-02.

Usually Jefferson Lines 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.