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Madison to Minneapolis bus

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Madison - Minneapolis Bus Schedule

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Journey Information

There are 8 intercity buses per day from Madison to Minneapolis. Traveling by bus from Madison to Minneapolis usually takes around 7 hours and 27 minutes, but the fastest Badger Bus bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 35 minutes.

Distance233 mi (374 km)
Shortest duration4h 35m
Cheapest price$38.64
Trips per day4
Most frequent serviceJefferson Lines
Bus lines4

Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Overall score for buses from Madison to Minneapolis

(Based on 14 ratings and reviews)

4.7

5.0

Maren

January 5, 2024- Solo travel

Badger Bus

Pros: I liked that the bus driver was super cool and funny. Also cracked a joke or made small talk on the way there. Cons: Nothing much. Idk if this is possible but maybe a different toilet seat. The cold metal was not pleasant haha. Tips: Take a badger bus.

4.0

Ella

November 12, 2023- Visiting family

Jefferson Lines

Pros: The bus was really nice and had a stop at Kwik Trip. Cons: It wasn't on time. Tips: Look at the Jefferson app to see travel times.

4.0

Naila

September 28, 2023- Visiting family

Jefferson Lines

Pros: Staff was very nice and friendly. Cons: None of the outlets worked. Tips: pre charge your phone, the outlets don’t work.

5.0

Owen

January 16, 2023- Visiting friends

Jefferson Lines

Pros: The nice driver and the low bus ticket price. Cons: more direct route? Tips: make sure you have enough water and a snack.

4.0

Katherine

November 27, 2022- Solo travel

Badger Bus

Pros: Very comfortable ride and nice workers. Cons: Seat belts needed attention. My seat belt could not connect. Tips: Bring water and snacks.

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How much is a bus ticket from Madison to Minneapolis?

$44.02 is the average price of a bus ticket from Madison to Minneapolis. 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.

Average prices by travel date

$62$41$21AprApr

Bus tickets from Madison to Minneapolis are expected to cost between $48 and $55 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Minneapolis within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $48. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.

Monthly average prices

$69$55$41$28$14MJJASONDJFMA
Bus tickets from Madison to Minneapolis are at their cheapest average price in February. This time of year usually offers the best deals on bus tickets for this route, with ticket prices around $48. On the other hand, traveling on this route during March might cost you a bit more than usual. Bus tickets for March trips cost $59, on average. But no need to stress — booking your bus ticket in advance can help you snag cheaper tickets.

Prices as travel date approaches

$104$83$62$41$213020100

To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 29 days in advance to save up to $53.27.

What bus companies travel from Madison to Minneapolis?

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

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Badger Bus24h 49m$74.88
FlixBus US25h 34m$70.98
Greyhound29h 26m$73.60
Jefferson Lines47h 35m$40.33

  • Badger Bus is a family-owned bus company running routes across Wisconsin and Minnesota, such as Madison to Minneapolis. 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.

  • 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. On average, FlixBus US operates 2 trips per day from Madison to Minneapolis, and the average ticket for this route costs only .

  • 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 performs about 2 bus trips from Madison to Minneapolis every day, with the average journey taking around 9 hours and 26 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Minneapolis usually start from $50.

  • Book Jefferson Lines from Madison to Minneapolis from $40. There are 4 Jefferson Lines schedules from Madison to Minneapolis and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Minneapolis. In Madison, Jefferson Lines departs to Minneapolis from University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center and no other station. In Minneapolis, Jefferson Lines arrives at University of Minnesota (Huron Blvd at 2428 Delaware St SE) and 2 other stations.

    An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Madison to Minneapolis takes 7 hours and 35 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Minneapolis in 4 hours and 35 minutes .

    On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 4 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Minneapolis.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bus takes an average of 7 hours and 27 minutes to cover the 374 kilometers from Madison to Minneapolis. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 35 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.

"Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Minneapolis. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet."

The first bus leaves at 10:00am and the last bus leaves at 12:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Madison to Minneapolis, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 8 scheduled buses that travel from Madison to Minneapolis every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 4 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your 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.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN - MSP-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Minneapolis, MN - MSP-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Minneapolis, MN - MSP-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Situated along the bank of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Minneapolis is one of the biggest and most exciting cities to visit in the Midwest. It is home to the Chain of Lakes, where you can swim, fish, boat and even bike or walk along the lakeside trails. It’s no wonder Minneapolis is among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for outdoor activities!

Although it's known as the City of Lakes, Minneapolis has a lot more to offer than gorgeous lakes, wetlands, and waterfalls. Shopaholics can spend days getting lost in the Mall of America, which boasts over 500 stores and an indoor theme park. If you're visiting Minneapolis on a romantic vacation, Minneapolis' bustling theater district offers excellent date nights from dozens of theater companies. Or, for a less musical and more brews-ical date option, head to one of 62 top-rated breweries in the #2 best city in America for craft beer.

Minneapolis can be visited in any season, but keep in mind that it becomes a frigid, snowy destination in the winter. January hovers around 0° Fahrenheit, but it's worth bundling up to enjoy the St. Paul Winter Carnival, or hockey and ice skating on any of the 13 lakes in the city. Have we mentioned how great the lakes are?

If you're visiting both of the Twin Cities, you can take public transport from downtown Minneapolis to Saint Paul in about 30 minutes. Public transit also connects downtown to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Thanks to bus stations throughout Minneapolis, traveling by bus is the easiest way to arrive directly in the middle of the action and begin your adventure.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Madison?

Main departure station: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

Buses to Minneapolis leave from 3 stations in Madison.

All bus stations in Madison:

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

  • Phillips 66

  • Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)

Where does the bus arrive in Minneapolis?

Transportation Center - 950 Hawthorne Ave - MSPGLI-0

Image credit: Michael Hicks

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Minneapolis

Located in Central Minneapolis at 950 Hawthorne Ave, the Minneapolis Bus Station is a gateway to nearby cities throughout Minnesota and the Midwest. Greyhound and Jefferson Lines buses operate routes from this station to major cities such as Milwaukee or Chicago and beyond. From the Minneapolis Bus Station, it is a short 12-minute walk to Target Field Station where you can connect to light rail service throughout the city. Vending machines offer snacks or drinks within the station, or head one block south to Hennepin Ave for a variety of restaurant options for hungry travelers.

Bus stations in Minneapolis:

  • Minneapolis

  • University of Minnesota (Huron Blvd at 2428 Delaware St SE)

  • Minneapolis-St Paul Airport

  • 8000 Ikea Way

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