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How to get to Madison by bus

Routes26
Trips per day166
bus lines7
Stations7

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About Madison

Consistently ranking high on the lists of the best places to live in the USA, Madison still maintains its quaint and idyllic small-town vibe despite being the capital city of Wisconsin. Sitting among the city’s most iconic and most popular landmarks is the Madison Memorial Union, which is located within the campus of the University of Madison. The building features a lakeview terrace filled with colorful chairs, allowing visitors to chill out and enjoy the sun. If you are interested in the history of the state or architecture as a whole, head over to the State Capitol building, which was built between 1906 and 1917. The building features lavish council chambers, which were modeled after the famous Doge’s Palace in Venice, along with other architectural highlights. If you wish to stay close to nature, the Olbrich Botanical garden, with its famous Thai Pavilion and Garden, will certainly be a great choice.

As a college city, Madison features numerous cutting-edge establishments that will make your mouth water. For some of the best dining views in town, head over to Graze, where you can also grab some of the best cheese curds in Madison. If you want to enjoy the best brunch in town, Sardine might have what you need.

The busiest bus/train station in Madison is located on Collins Ct. The city is served by the Dane County Regional Airport, 6 miles northeast of downtown.

Station Information

Dutch Mill Park & Ride Lot  - MSIAMT3-0

Image credit: Corey Coyle

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The Dutch Mill Park & Ride is a parking lot where travelers can catch local Madison Metro buses throughout the city, as well as intercity buses on Amtrak Thruway heading to destinations like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee. For those parking before riding, the lot has both daily and overnight parking available for free. Although there is no station building, bus shelters line the bus lanes, and there is easy access to the next-door gas station and Arby’s, where you can grab a bite or hang out indoors before the bus arrives. The Dutch Mill Park & Ride is a few miles outside of downtown Madison, but several convenience stores, restaurants, and hotels are still in the direct vicinity.

The Phillips 66 on Collins Ct is a gas station where Greyhound buses stop in Madison. The bus stops outside the gas station, and inside, Phillips 66 offers convenient snacks and services for travelers. You can grab a coffee or quick bite to enjoy on the bus or use the available restroom or ATM. The surrounding area also offers a few restaurants and hotels for more extended stays. The station is located a few miles outside of Madison’s downtown area, but it is easy to access local public transportation across the street at the Dutch Mill Park & Ride.

Popular bus stations in Madison:

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

  • Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)

  • Phillips 66

  • Dutch Mill Park & Ride Lot

  • E Johnson-E Gorham at N Pinckney St

  • E Washington - E Johnson St

What bus companies travel to Madison, Wisconsin?

Located in Wisconsin, Madison is accessible by bus from 26 other cities. You can choose from 166 daily scheduled trips when you search for buses to Madison on Wanderu. Coach USA usually has the most buses on any given day.

Looking for other ways to get there? Train tickets to Madison are also available..

Bus companies serving Madison

BusRoutesAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus US15210h 46m$110.25
Megabus182h 10m$35.97
Greyhound1618h 19m$169.63
Jefferson Lines125h 38m$49.60
Badger Bus61h 32m$35.51
Amtrak Thruway43h 41m$61.20
Coach USA12h 43m$53.47
  • FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment.

  • Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound buses are outfitted with power outlets, free WiFi, restrooms, and air conditioning for your comfort.

  • Badger Bus is a family-owned bus company running routes across Wisconsin and Minnesota. It shares the same fuzzy mascot as the University of Wisconsin, which makes it a popular choice for students traveling between the Madison and Milwaukee campuses. The easily recognizable red, white, and black buses feature free reliable Wi-Fi, comfortable seats with outlets, and clean restroom facilities.

  • Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities.

Which bus carrier has the best service to Madison?

Based on customers travel reviews, travelers who booked on Wanderu rave about traveling to Madison by bus with Megabus giving them a 5 rating out of 5.

Travelers also mentioned that Badger Bus had the most comfortable bus service to Madison taking into account the seats and amenities that Badger Bus offers. They rate Badger Bus a 4.5 out of 5 when it comes to just how relaxing and enjoyable their experience was onboard.

If you are looking to arrive to Madison punctually, travelers suggest that Megabus has the best on time performance on their bus schedules to Madison, rating them a 5 based on their on time arrivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

$18.23 is the cheapest price for a bus ticket to Madison, according to recent searches on Wanderu. You can use our search to check if this price is currently available on buses from your city to Madison. In the last month, buses from Johnson Creek to Madison had the lowest average price at $18.23.

The busiest bus station in Madison is University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center. There are several other active stations in addition to this main station. The most popular bus stations in Madison are:

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
  • Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)
The closest airport to Madison is Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN), it is located 5.7 miles from the city center of Madison.
Madison ranks number 12 among most popular bus destinations in the region. It also ranks number 576 in United States. Madison has the second most number of destinations in Wisconsin that are connected to Madison by bus service. Each day 171 direct bus schedules arrive in the Madison.
The population of Madison is 248951. Madison ranks number 5 in terms of population in Wisconsin and number 290 in all of United States.
Bus tickets to Madison range from $18 for a short trip to Madison, while a 60 to 200 mile bus trip to Madison starts at , and a longer trip by bus to Madison can be as cheap as . Looking to travel across state or province lines? A trip from out of your region will be as low as $36.
People who take the bus to Madison are most often visiting their families or loved ones. With frequent schedules, the ability to book and hop on a bus last minute make taking a bus to Madison easy whether you're planning a trip far in advance or need some quality time with loved ones at the last minute.
The closest bus station to the city center of Madison is University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center, located just 0.2 miles away. Select University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center as your arrival if your plans call for exploring the downtown area of Madison. Search on Wanderu and in the search results you can filter travel options by arriving or departing station.

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With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.