There are 6 ways to get from Des Moines to Madison by plane, bus, car, bus (Greyhound), or bus (Flixbus, Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN)plane DSM - MSN
4h 23m$115–673Drive 274.9 mi
cheapest- Drive from Des Moines to Madisoncar 274.9 mi
5h 5m$51–73Bus via Bloomington
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Burnsvillebus Jefferson 802 / ...
- Take the bus from Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomington to Madison, WI-Lake St.bus Minneapolis
11h 40m$120–170Fly to General Mitchell International Airport, bus
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)plane DSM - MKE
- Take the bus from Mitchell Airport to Madison, WI-Lake St.bus
6h 34m$159–941Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0123S / ...
- Take the bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus Van Galder
11h 50m$80–161Bus #2
- Take the bus from Des Moines to St. Paulbus Jefferson 802
- Take the bus from St. Paul to UW-Madisonbus Minneapolis / ...
12h 5m$100–185
Des Moines to Madison by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Madison is to drive which costs $50 - $75 and takes 5h 5m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Madison is to fly which takes 4h 23m and costs $110 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Madison. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Madison, WI-Lake St. via Burnsville Transit Station Bay B, MOA Transit Station Gate A and Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomington. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 40m.
The distance between Des Moines and Madison is 261 miles. The road distance is 276.5 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Madison without a car is to bus via Bloomington which takes 11h 40m and costs $120 - $170.
It takes approximately 4h 23m to get from Des Moines to Madison, including transfers.
Des Moines to Madison bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Madison is to fly which takes 4h 23m and costs $110 - $700. Alternatively, you can bus via Bloomington, which costs $120 - $170 and takes 11h 40m.
Des Moines to Madison bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, arrive at Burnsville station.
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Madison is 277 miles. It takes approximately 5h 5m to drive from Des Moines to Madison.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Madison, WI, USA?
Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Madison, WI-Lake St. via Burnsville Transit Station Bay B, Mall of America Transit Station Gate F, MOA Transit Station Gate A, American & Thunderbird Station, and Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomington in around 11h 40m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–850
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 34m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–1,200
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $360–1,700
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–650
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 34m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–900
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 42m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,700
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–650
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,200
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–900
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–1,700
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–950
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,700
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Burnsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $60–85
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $60–85
Bus from Des Moines to St. Paul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–90
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $65–90
Bus from St. Paul to UW-Madison
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $70–110
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- ticketinfo@badgerbus.com
- Website
- badgerbus.com
Bus from Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomington to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- https://badgerbus.com
Bus from Mitchell Airport to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $24–35
- Website
- https://badgerbus.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Mitchell Airport to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $11–20
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from St. Paul to UW-Madison
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–110
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from St. Paul to UW-Madison
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–95
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (866) 912 - 6224
- questions@coachusa.com
- Website
- coachusa.com
Bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Schedules at
- coachusa.com
- Adult
- $25–55
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