Busbud recommends taking the bus from Chicago to Madison
Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Madison. The journey takes about 3 hours 35 minutes and with fares starting at just $27, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.
Passengers frequently commend the bus service for its punctuality, cleanliness, and professional staff. Many appreciate the comfortable ride and helpful ground personnel who provide clear instructions. However, some users noted issues with signage outside buses and discrepancies regarding ticket printing requirements in emails. Overall, customer experiences are largely positive.
Coach USA Chicago Madison recent customer reviews
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...
5 out of 5 stars
Mary N.
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.
1 out of 5 stars
Kathy P.
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.
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.
Coach USA Chicago Madison recent customer reviews
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...
5 out of 5 stars
Mary N.
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.
1 out of 5 stars
Kathy P.
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.
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.
Coach USA Chicago Madison recent customer reviews
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...
5 out of 5 stars
Mary N.
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.
1 out of 5 stars
Kathy P.
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.
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.
Coach USA Chicago Madison recent customer reviews
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...
5 out of 5 stars
Mary N.
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.
1 out of 5 stars
Kathy P.
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.
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?
Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - Madison, WI
What is the distance between Chicago and Madison?
The distance between the two cities is 123 miles (199 km).
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.
Find cheapest prices for buses
Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.
Best price found
08/28
$39
08/29
$39
Today
$39
08/31
$31
09/01
$34
09/02
$26
09/03
$21
09/04
$24
The cheapest trip from Chicago to Madison, WI was searched and found on Sep 3, 2025 with a price of $21
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 $21 to $95 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 $21 which is on 2025-09-03.
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, WI?
The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination
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.
Busbud recommends taking the bus from Chicago to Madison
The cheapest trip from Chicago to Madison, WI was searched and found on Sep 3, 2025 with a price of $21
The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination
