There are 6 ways to get from Iowa to Madison by bus (Flixbus), car, plane, bus, or bus (Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Des Moines to St. Paulbus Jefferson 802
- Take the bus from Saint Paul Union Depot to Madisonbus FlixBus 2548
10h 50m$56–230Drive 274.9 mi
cheapest- Drive from Des Moines to Madisoncar 274.9 mi
5h 4m$51–73Fly from Quad City International Airport, bus
- Fly from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane MLI - ORD
- Take the bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus
7h 30m$107–317Bus via Burnsville
- 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 42m$89–196Bus #2
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0123 / ...
- Take the bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus Van Galder
11h 56m$70–155Bus to The Eastern Iowa Airport, fly, bus
- Take the bus from Court St Transportation Center to GTC Bay 9bus
- Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane CID - ORD
- Take the bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus
8h 48m
Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Iowa to Madison is to drive which costs $50 - $75 and takes 5h 4m.
The fastest way to get from Iowa to Madison is to drive which takes 5h 4m and costs $50 - $75.
The distance between Iowa and Madison is 525 miles. The road distance is 276.5 miles.
The best way to get from Iowa to Madison without a car is to bus which takes 10h 50m and costs $55 - $230.
It takes approximately 10h 50m to get from Iowa to Madison, including transfers.
Yes, the driving distance between Iowa to Madison is 277 miles. It takes approximately 5h 4m to drive from Iowa to Madison.
There are 114+ hotels available in Madison.
What companies run services between Iowa, USA and Madison, WI, USA?
You can take a vehicle from Des Moines to Madison via Des Moines, St. Paul, and Saint Paul Union Depot in around 10h 50m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–220
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–230
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–220
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–230
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to St. Paul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $23–110
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Saint Paul Union Depot to Madison
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $24–110
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Burnsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $21–100
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Saint Paul Union Depot to Madison
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $40–75
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 608-752-5407
- vangalder@coachusa.com
- Website
- coachusa.com
Bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $20–40
- Website
- https://www.coachusa.com/van-galder-bus-company
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
- $21–45
- Website
- https://www.coachusa.com/van-galder-bus-company
- 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
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
- $40–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1-319-362-0375
- Website
- 380express.com
Bus from Court St Transportation Center to GTC Bay 9
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Website
- https://www.380express.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.380express.com/schedule/
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