There are 7 ways to get from Madison to Chicago, IL by bus, train, car, plane, or bus (Flixbus)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus via W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St
best- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton StVan Galder
4h 7m$22–45Bus, train
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - AmtrakMadison
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union StationHiawatha Service / ...
4h 13m$29–99Drive 146.4 mi
- Drive from Madison to Chicago, IL146.4 mi
2h 28m$27–39Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)MSN - ORD
3h 25m$44–297Bus (Flixbus)
- Take the bus from Madison to Chicago Bus StationFlixBus 2514 / ...
4h 10m$28–55Bus to General Mitchell International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mitchell Airport
- Fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)MKE - ORD
5h 3m$283–708Drive to Dubuque Regional Airport, fly
- Drive from Madison to Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ)
- Fly from Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)DBQ - ORD
3h 49m$140–231
Madison to Chicago, IL by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Madison to Chicago, IL is to drive which costs $26 - $40 and takes 2h 28m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to Chicago, IL is to drive which takes 2h 28m and costs $26 - $40.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus and arriving at W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 4h.
The distance between Madison and Chicago, IL is 158 miles. The road distance is 147.2 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to Chicago, IL without a car is to bus via W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St which takes 4h 7m and costs $22 - $45.
The bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St takes 4h including transfers and departs hourly.
Madison to Chicago, IL bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Madison station.
The best way to get from Madison to Chicago, IL is to bus via W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St which takes 4h 7m and costs $22 - $45. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $40 - $300 and takes 3h 25m.
Madison to Chicago, IL bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Chicago, IL is 147 miles. It takes approximately 2h 28m to drive from Madison to Chicago, IL.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and Chicago, IL, USA?
Vangalder Bus operates a bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St hourly. Tickets cost $22–45 and the journey takes 4h. Alternatively, American Airlines and United Airlines fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) every 2 hours.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–290
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–340
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–290
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–340
- Website
- keylimeair.com
Flights from Dubuque Regional Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–200
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 608-752-5407
- vangalder@coachusa.com
- Website
- coachusa.com
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.coachusa.com/van-galder-bus-company
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- ticketinfo@badgerbus.com
- Website
- badgerbus.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–30
- Website
- https://badgerbus.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mitchell Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $24–35
- Website
- https://badgerbus.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–40
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Madison to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–55
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mitchell Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–40
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $7–55
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Phone
- +1 800-236-1240
- Website
- golamers.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21–50
- Website
- https://www.golamers.com/
- Schedules at
- https://www.golamers.com/
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mitchell Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–55
- Website
- https://www.golamers.com/
- Schedules at
- https://www.golamers.com/
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