How much is the bus ticket from Madison to Chicago?

The cheapest bus tickets from Madison to Chicago 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 Madison to Chicago?

The average bus trip duration from Madison to Chicago is 3h 15m, covering a distance of 103 miles (166 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 40m and is operated by Coach USA .

Which bus companies service the Madison to Chicago route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 75 buses available per day, including services from Coach USA , Amtrak , FlixBus , Jefferson Lines , Greyhound .

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

The earliest bus departs from Madison to Chicago at 1:30am. And the latest bus departs at 6:10pm.

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

A bus trip from Madison to Chicago generates an estimated 4.1346 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 Madison to Chicago?

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 5780 reviews.

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

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 Madison to Chicago?

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 Madison to Chicago?

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 Madison to Chicago from $21 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Madison to Chicago on April 2
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	Bus	1:45am	Madison WI - Dutch Mill Park-N-Ride (SMD)	3h	4:45am	ORD Chicago O'Hare Airport Terminal 5	Cheapest
	Bus	7:20am	Madison WI - Dutch Mill Park-N-Ride (SMD)	2h 40m	10:00am	Chicago O'Hare International Airport T2	Fastest
	Bus	1:45am	Dutch Mill Park & Ride	3h 35m	5:20am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
	Bus	6:45am	North Lake St	3h 10m	9:55am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	5:55pm	North Lake St	5h 40m	11:35pm	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 6:21 PM CDT.

Get from Madison to Chicago

This route is served by bus only

The journey takes about 3 hours 15 minutes and with fares starting at just $28, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

75bus per day

3h 15mAverage Duration

103 milesDistance

4kgCO₂ emissions

Where are the popular stops in Madison and Chicago?

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

Stops in Chicago

A
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Visit page
B
Downtown Greyhound Station
630 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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

Compare companies

Coach USA

4/5188 reviews

Staff4.5

Timeliness4.1

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.5

According to user feedback, the bus service is praised for its punctuality and cleanliness. The drivers are often described as respectful, friendly, and informative. Passengers appreciate the comfortable rides with amenities like power outlets available on board. However, there was a mention of one driver not being particularly helpful during a trip to O'Hare Airport. Overall satisfaction remains high due to efficient time management and courteous staff interactions.

Coach USA Madison Chicago recent customer reviews

The first driver wasn’t very helpful. This was the first time I had taken a bus to O’hare.

Jerry E.

April 29, 2025

Terrible. A two hour drive turned into 4.5 cause of slow driver, driver change that took 45 minutes and driver veering off the optimal path to “save time” did not save time rather added 10 minutes

Usman S.

December 20, 2024

The temperature was nice, and there was power for my phone. It was a peaceful and uneventful trip.

Daryl G.

December 12, 2024

Amtrak

4/55,782 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Users have shared that the drivers are friendly and professional, contributing to a pleasant travel experience. The buses are clean, enhancing comfort during the ride. However, some users noted issues with non-functional sockets and Wi-Fi connectivity. Additionally, there were mentions of missing amenities like pull-out trays for laptops and cup holders.

Amtrak Madison Chicago recent customer reviews

By even mentioning that my final destination was ohare i was not able to board the bus. I needed to buy another ticket from the bus folks directly to go to the same destination. This policy is ridiculous...

Brendan J.

May 18, 2024

The bus was late and overbooked. I just barely made it to my train. It was incredibly stressful.

Mischelle J.

May 15, 2024

We missed the bus to connect with our train. The bus stop was in a different location than specified

Cyndy A.

August 8, 2023

FlixBus

3.5/512,387 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Users have reported a positive experience with the service, highlighting its cleanliness and safety. They appreciated features like good shades, making it an excellent choice for travel to events such as weddings. First-time riders also expressed satisfaction with their journey, noting no complaints about the overall experience.

FlixBus Madison Chicago recent customer reviews

More better pick up location indicators. Need to know where I'm supposed to be to get picked up. Costed me 2 tickets. No refunds.i paid 3 times to get home. Cold and almost out of money. And costed me a day of work.

Shaun G.

November 28, 2024

Bus came late; got us to Chicago an hour late. Driver never explained and was rude when asked.

Leslie K.

April 22, 2023

Clean, safe, goos shades and a great way to travel to the wedding

Paula S.

August 4, 2025

Jefferson Lines

4/5766 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.7

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi2.3

Greyhound

3.5/587,531 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 Madison Chicago recent customer reviews

Bus was more than 3 hrs late forcing me to make other accommodations for my transport

Armon M.

February 9, 2020

Busses should not leave early from main stops. Late we need to understand, but not early with a limited number of routes and difficult to reach stops. I got lucky to make it to the bus stop with a random paid driver from the gas station when I couldn't get a taxi as the plan b. She pulled up on the guys back just as I was getting out so timing is critical. We pulled out two minutes early by my watch. Shortly after under-way, I noticed a heavy set woman was coughing violently and had no mask and didn't cover her mouth. I asked fellow passengers how long she was like that and they said they got on in Billings Montana and she in North Dakota they recalled and she was coughing the whole way. She was not prepared to make her trip and was obnoxious that she wouldn't cover herself from contaminating everyone. If Greyhound knows it has an exhaust problem which can trigger her alleged asthma then they should have on board a supply of masks for anyone requesting one. I just wonder how little support Greyhound gives their staff.

John J.

November 2, 2018

I accidentally signed up for the wrong time. I tried to get a bus that went from Madison to Chicago at 6:30 am (I had a flight to catch at 11:30). However my tickets were for 6:30 pm. I called the customer service number and the machine said that it would be best to go to a station to get a refund/change tickets. When I went to both of the stations in Madison I noticed that there was no office. It was just a stop. I ended up cutting my loses and paying $20 for another bus ticket. It was frustrating that I wasn't able to talk to anybody at Greyhound about my situation.

Chris M.

September 3, 2017

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

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Madison, WI to Chicago 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 Madison to Chicago?
The cheapest bus tickets from Madison to Chicago 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 Madison to Chicago?
The average bus trip duration from Madison to Chicago is 3h 15m, covering a distance of 103 miles (166 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 1h 40m and is operated by Coach USA.
Which bus companies service the Madison to Chicago route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 75 buses available per day, including services from Coach USA, Amtrak, FlixBus, Jefferson Lines, Greyhound.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Madison to Chicago?
The earliest bus departs from Madison to Chicago at 1:30am. And the latest bus departs at 6:10pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Madison to Chicago?
A bus trip from Madison to Chicago generates an estimated 4.1346 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 Madison to Chicago?
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 5780 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Madison to Chicago?
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 Madison to Chicago?
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 Madison to Chicago?
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

03/30

$39

03/31

$39

Today

$39

04/02

$39

04/03

$39

04/04

$35

04/05

$34

04/06

$30

The cheapest trip from Madison, WI to Chicago was searched and found on Apr 6, 2026 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 Madison, WI to Chicago, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $30 to $179 for a bus ticket from Madison, WI to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $30 which is on 2026-04-06.

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.