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Cheap bus tickets from Madison to Ames

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Madison to Ames Bus Schedule

No preview is currently available. Please try another date or search the full schedule.

Bus from Madison to Ames: Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Madison to Ames. Traveling by bus from Madison to Ames usually takes around 13 hours and 5 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in 11 hours and 55 minutes.

Distance227 mi (365 km)
Shortest duration11h 55m
Cheapest price$237.29
Most frequent serviceJefferson Lines
Bus lines1

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Price trends for buses from Madison to Ames

Average bus ticket prices from Madison to Ames by month

$282$226$169$113$56DJFMAMJJASON

What bus companies travel from Madison to Ames?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Madison to Ames. Jefferson Lines is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Jefferson Lines113h 5m$237.29
  • Book Jefferson Lines from Madison to Ames from $237. There are 1 Jefferson Lines schedules from Madison to Ames and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Ames. In Madison, Jefferson Lines departs to Ames from University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center and no other station. In Ames, Jefferson Lines arrives at Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave and no other station.

    An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Madison to Ames takes 13 hours and 5 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Ames in 11 hours and 55 minutes .

    On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Ames.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Madison to Ames

The bus takes an average of 13 hours and 5 minutes to cover the 365 kilometers from Madison to Ames. However, the fastest bus only takes 11 hours and 55 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

"Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Madison to Ames for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Monday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your bus travel for the beginning of the week."

There is usually only one bus per day from Madison to Ames. It leaves the station in Madison at 10:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.

There is usually only one bus per day from Madison to Ames. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip.

City Information

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

Where does the bus leave from in Madison?

Main departure station: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

Most buses depart from the main station in Madison.

All bus stations in Madison:

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

Where does the bus arrive in Ames?

Main arrival station: Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave

All buses from Madison arrive at one main station in Ames.

Bus stations in Ames:

  • Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave

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