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Bus Chicago to Madison: Trip Overview
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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 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
Passengers played loud music on the bus. Bathroom was dirty.
Overal good except for there staff member Carl that sexually harassed me and another person I was sitting by
The bus were dirty, the driver were rude and no polite at all.
Based on 29 reviews, the company was rated 3.3 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the cleanliness and the temperature but often complained with the wifi. Coach USA ticket prices on this trip start at $43.00
Coach USA Chicago Madison recent customer reviews
My ticket didn't work and I had to buy another one
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.
Information on this bus route
Daily Departures | 27 |
Earliest and Latest Bus Departures | 6:15AM - 11:15PM |
Minimum Price | $24 |
Average Ticket Price | $46 |
Minimum Trip Duration | 3h20m |
Average Bus Trip Duration | 3h35m |
Distance | 118 miles (189 km) |
Bus Companies on This Route | FlixBus, Greyhound, Coach USA |
Where are the popular bus stations and stops in Chicago and Madison?
630 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Downtown Greyhound Station225 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
Union Station500-536 W Polk St, Chicago IL 60607, USA
Polk St & Canal St5800 N Cumberland Ave, Chicago, IL 60631, USA
Cumberland CTA2807 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60623, USA
Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave800 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53715, USA
UW Memorial Union4 Collins Ct, Madison, WI 53716, USA
Dutch Mill Park & RideFrequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - Madison
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.
The average travel time from Chicago to Madison is about 3h 35m, although the fastest bus will take 3h 20m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 123 miles (199 km) that separate the two cities.
The distance between the two cities is 123 miles (199 km).
On average, there are 27 daily departures on this route, offered by FlixBus, Greyhound and Coach USA. 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!
The first bus leaves at 6:15 AM and the last one leaves at 11:15 PM.
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.
If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, go for the bus. $31 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Madison from Chicago.
The average bus ticket price from Chicago to Madison is $46. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $31 to $47, so it's good to do your research before booking.
Find cheapest prices for buses
Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.
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 $24 to $43 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 $24 which is on 2024-04-23.
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?
Vehicle Type | Travel Time | Avg Price | Daily Departures |
---|---|---|---|
Vehicle TypeBus | Travel Time3h 35m | Avg Price$46 | Daily Departures27 |
Vehicle TypeTrain | Travel Time4h 10m | Avg Price$47 | Daily Departures3 |
The best way to travel between Chicago and Madison is by bus. By choosing the bus, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $46 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $31. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to Madison, choose the bus, as it will take you from Chicago to Madison in about 3h 35m - that's the fastest way to get there!
Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?
Bus from Madison to ChicagoYou can also go to Madison by train
Train from Chicago to MadisonWhy 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.
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