There are 5 ways to get from Madison to Des Plaines by bus, train, car, or plane
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 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus Van Galder
4h 20m$23–48Bus, train
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrakbus Madison
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Stationtrain Hiawatha Service / ...
5h 14m$36–102Drive 129.9 mi
- Drive from Madison to Des Plainescar 129.9 mi
2h 15m$24–35Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane MSN - ORD
3h 6m$92–347Bus to General Mitchell International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mitchell Airportbus
- Fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane MKE - ORD
4h 38m$336–858
Madison to Des Plaines by bus and subway
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Madison to Des Plaines is to drive which costs $23 - $35 and takes 2h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to Des Plaines is to drive which takes 2h 15m and costs $23 - $35.
The distance between Madison and Des Plaines is 147 miles. The road distance is 130.7 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to Des Plaines without a car is to bus which takes 4h 20m and costs $23 - $50.
It takes approximately 4h 20m to get from Madison to Des Plaines, including transfers.
The best way to get from Madison to Des Plaines is to bus which takes 4h 20m and costs $23 - $50. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $90 - $350 and takes 3h 6m.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Des Plaines is 131 miles. It takes approximately 2h 15m to drive from Madison to Des Plaines.
There are 402+ hotels available in Des Plaines.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and Des Plaines, IL, USA?
Vangalder Bus operates a bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures hourly. Tickets cost $20–40 and the journey takes 3h. 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 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–290
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–310
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–290
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–310
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
- $22–40
- 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 O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $20–40
- 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
- $20–28
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mitchell Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–28
- 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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