There are 7 ways to get from Iowa to Madison by bus, shuttle, car, plane, bus (Flixbus), or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus, shuttle
best- Take the bus from Des Moines to Owatonna
- Take a shuttle bus from Owatonna, MN to Rochester Sinclair
- Take the bus from Rochester to Madison
10h 51m$52–230Drive 274.9 mi
cheapest- Drive from Des Moines to Madison274.9 mi
5h 3m$51–73Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport, bus
- Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)CID - ORD
- Take the bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
7h 3m$127–365Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to ChicagoDes Moines
- Take the bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW CampusVan Galder
12h$77–199Bus via 7Th St / Locust St, Dsm
- Take the bus from Des Moines to ChicagoOmaha
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to MadisonFlixBus 2548 / ...
12h 18m$95–212Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukee
- Take the bus from Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak to Madison, WI-Lake St.
12h 41m$96–262Fly from Quad City International Airport, bus
- Fly from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)MLI - ORD
- Take the bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
7h 30m$107–317
Iowa to Madison by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Iowa to Madison is to drive which costs $50 - $75 and takes 5h 3m.
The fastest way to get from Iowa to Madison is to drive which takes 5h 3m and costs $50 - $75.
No, there is no direct bus from Iowa to Madison. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus via W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h.
The distance between Iowa and Madison is 453 miles. The road distance is 276.5 miles.
The best way to get from Iowa to Madison without a car is to bus and shuttle which takes 10h 51m and costs $50 - $230.
It takes approximately 10h 51m to get from Iowa to Madison, including transfers.
Iowa to Madison bus services, operated by Burlington Trailways, depart from Des Moines station.
Iowa to Madison bus services, operated by Burlington Trailways, arrive at Chicago station.
Yes, the driving distance between Iowa to Madison is 277 miles. It takes approximately 5h 3m to drive from Iowa to Madison.
There are 144+ hotels available in Madison.
What companies run services between Iowa, USA and Madison, WI, USA?
You can take a bus from Des Moines to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus via Chicago and W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St in around 12h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–230
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–220
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–230
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–220
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukee
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Owatonna
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $17–85
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Rochester to Madison
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–95
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $7–55
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Phone
- +1 (888) 736-9190
- customerservice@landtoair.net
- Website
- landtoairexpress.com
Shuttle from Owatonna, MN to Rochester Sinclair
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $6–40
- Schedules at
- landtoairexpress.com
- Adult
- $6–40
- 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 (319) 753-2864
- info@burlingtontrailways.com
- Website
- burlingtontrailways.com
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–160
- Website
- https://burlingtontrailways.com
- Saver Fares
- $65–100
- Flexible Fares
- $90–140
- Saver Fare
- $55–110
- Flex Fare
- $75–160
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Madison
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–60
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $21–65
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- ticketinfo@badgerbus.com
- Website
- badgerbus.com
Bus from Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–30
- Website
- https://badgerbus.com
- Phone
- +1 800-236-1240
- Website
- golamers.com
Bus from Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21–50
- Website
- https://www.golamers.com/
- Schedules at
- https://www.golamers.com/
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