Question 1

Which bus carrier should you take from Madison to Chicago?

Accepted Answer

The cheapest bus carrier you can take from Madison to Chicago is Greyhound, which has an average ticket price of $24.40. That said, Greyhound also averages the longest travel time at 5 hours and 54 minutes. To arrive in Chicago sooner, consider traveling on a Megabus, with an average travel time of 3 hours and 43 minutes. Megabus tickets average a few dollars more than Greyhound, but may be worth it to save you almost two hours.

Question 2

How do you get to the bus station from UW-Madison?

Accepted Answer

Bus carriers such as Megabus and Van Galder depart from Langdon Street just outside of the Memorial Union building on the east side of the UW-Madison campus. The Memorial Union is on the south shore of Lake Mendota, next to the Helen C. White Hall and across from the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Question 3

How much longer does a bus take than a flight from Madison to Chicago?

Accepted Answer

The fastest you can expect to arrive in Chicago from Madison is about 3 hours, though the average time is closer to 3 hours and 45 minutes. Nonstop flights from Madison to Chicago take about an hour, but are far more expensive, averaging about $229. For comparison, bus tickets for this route average just $25.08.

Question 4

Is it safe to travel by bus from Madison to Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Accepted Answer

Our bus partners have implemented several different policies to keep you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. From limiting vehicle capacity to enhancing cleaning protocols and upgrading air filters, bus carriers are committed to maintaining a safe environment. For details on what each company is doing to ensure their fleet remains safe for travel, click here.
Although masks are no longer required on public transportation, we stand behind CDC guidelines that encourage passengers to wear a mask over their nose and mouth while on the bus or in stations.
Please visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide for more information on all carrier policies and the latest travel advisories issued by every U.S. state, Canadian province, and European country.

Question 5

What is the busiest day of the week to travel by bus?

Accepted Answer

Sunday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking buses from Madison to Chicago. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Sunday than other days. If you are hoping to have more room on the bus and even save some change check out travel options on Thursday instead, as less people travel then and deals are more likely to be found.

Question 6

What bus companies travel from Madison to Chicago?

Accepted Answer

There are 4 bus lines from Madison to Chicago available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 64 daily trips, Coach USA usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:

Question 7

How much is a bus ticket from Madison to Chicago?

Accepted Answer

$37.08 is the average price of a bus ticket from Madison to Chicago. Taking a bus is an affordable way to make this trip. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.

Question 8

How many buses are there each day?

Accepted Answer

There are 88 scheduled buses that travel from Madison to Chicago every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 91 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Madison to Chicago; ticket prices start at $52.61.

Question 9

How long is the bus ride from Madison to Chicago?

Accepted Answer

The bus takes an average of 4 hours and 22 minutes to cover the 197 kilometers from Madison to Chicago. However, the fastest bus only takes 2 hours and 55 minutes. In other words, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax on the road. 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.

Question 10

When do the earliest and latest buses leave Madison?

Accepted Answer

The first bus leaves at 1:00am and the last bus leaves at 9:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Madison to Chicago, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

Question 11

Get around town with Moovit

Accepted Answer

Download Moovit to see all of your local transit options in Chicago. Download here

Question 12

Where does the bus arrive in Chicago?

Accepted Answer

Buses arrive in Chicago at 7 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

Question 13

Where does the bus leave from in Madison?

Accepted Answer

Buses to Chicago leave from 5 stations in Madison.

Question 14

Prices as travel date approaches

Accepted Answer

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. The best way to find cheap bus tickets is to book at least 19 days in advance. By doing so, you can expect to save C$13.69 on your bus ticket compared to booking at the last minute.

Question 15

Average prices by travel date

Accepted Answer

Over the next four weeks, the average ticket price of a bus from Madison to Chicago is expected to range from  to . If you are looking to travel to Chicago within the next week, you can find bus tickets starting from . The cheapest bus tickets in the next month are  and can be found on .

Question 16

Monthly average prices

Accepted Answer

The lowest bus ticket prices on this route can usually be found in . That’s when the average price of a bus ticket is expected to be just – the lowest of the year.
Alternatively, if you plan to travel from Madison to Chicago in , expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you can still score a ticket at a lower price.

Question 17

Need a return trip from Chicago to Madison?

Accepted Answer

Search Bus Tickets

Question 18

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

Accepted Answer

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 and with no additional fees. 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.