There are 6 ways to get from Madison to Iowa by bus, plane, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), car, bus (Greyhound), 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, fly to The Eastern Iowa Airport
best- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)plane ORD - CID
5h 28m$99–370Drive 274.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from Madison to Des Moinescar 274.5 mi
5h 5m$51–73Bus via Saint Paul
- Take the bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depotbus FlixBus 2548
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Des Moinesbus Jefferson Lines 805
10h 45m$132–182Bus, fly to Quad City International Airport
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Quad City International Airport (MLI)plane ORD - MLI
6h 39m$61–312Bus
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton Stbus Van Galder
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0123S / ...
11h 42m$84–162Bus, train
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrakbus
- Take the train from Milwaukee to St. Paul-Minneapolistrain
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Des Moinesbus
14h 22m$177–332
Madison to Iowa by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Madison to Iowa is to drive which costs $50 - $75 and takes 5h 5m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to Iowa is to drive which takes 5h 5m and costs $50 - $75.
No, there is no direct bus from Madison to Iowa. However, there are services departing from Madison and arriving at Des Moines via St. Paul. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 45m.
The distance between Madison and Iowa is 347 miles. The road distance is 276.1 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to Iowa without a car is to bus via Saint Paul which takes 10h 45m and costs $130 - $190.
It takes approximately 5h 28m to get from Madison to Iowa, including transfers.
Madison to Iowa bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Madison station.
Madison to Iowa bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Saint Paul Union Depot station.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Iowa is 276 miles. It takes approximately 5h 5m to drive from Madison to Iowa.
There are 256+ hotels available in Iowa.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and Iowa, USA?
You can take a bus from Madison to Des Moines via St. Paul in around 10h 45m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to The Eastern Iowa Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Quad City International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–260
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to The Eastern Iowa Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Quad City International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–260
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Milwaukee to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $100–220
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 (866) 912 - 6224
- questions@coachusa.com
- Website
- Rockland Coaches
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $26–60
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $26–60
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–70
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–20
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–75
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–95
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $11–23
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $65–95
Bus from St. Paul to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–90
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $65–90
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–40
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $29–40
Bus from St. Paul to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–90
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $65–90
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- ticketinfo@badgerbus.com
- Website
- Badger Bus
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–30
- Website
- Badger Bus
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