Cheap train tickets from Madison to Lafayette

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Trip Summary

There is one daily train from Madison to Lafayette. Travelling by train from Madison to Lafayette usually takes 9 hours and 16 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 9 hours and 6 minutes.

Distance: 225 mi (362 km)
Fastest train: 9h 6m
Lowest price: £75.04
Trains per day: 1
Most frequent service: Amtrak
Train lines: 1

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Madison to Lafayette Train Timetable

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

Is it better to travel by coach or train from Madison to Lafayette?

There are usually 4 daily coach trips from Madison to Lafayette.

	Train	Coach
Avg. Price	Avg. Price£75.04	Avg. Price£50.64Cheaper
Daily Trips	Daily Trips1	Daily Trips4
Duration	Duration9h 16m	Duration6h 36mFaster

There are several train options that can take you from Madison to Lafayette:

Amtrak tickets: £75 one-way

See more details

Price trends for trains from Madison to Lafayette

Average train ticket prices from Madison to Lafayette by travel date

Average train ticket prices from Madison to Lafayette by month

Prices as travel date approaches

Which train should you take from Madison to Lafayette?

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Madison to Lafayette. Furthermore, there is only one train per day, so you will have to plan your travel around this limited availability. On the other hand, you won't have to spend a ton of time comparing a bunch of possible options.

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	1	9h 16m	£75.04

Amtrak is the largest passenger railway service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned toilet, free WiFi and power sockets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there is 1 Amtrak train from Madison to Lafayette every day, as well as 2 trips at the weekends, with prices starting from £75.04.

Frequently asked questions about travelling by train from Madison to Lafayette

While the train is the main method of transport from Madison to Lafayette, it will only take you part of the way there. Please note that part of your trip will be on a different vehicle, most commonly a coach or express shuttle.

Typically there is only one scheduled train per day. However, it is not a direct train. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. You will need to remember to bring your hand luggage with you when you transfer trains. Depending on the carrier's policy, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage. You can also take a train for your return trip from Lafayette to Madison. If you're not set on travelling by train, you could always take the coach from Madison to Lafayette for £30.

Trains per day

Direct trains

The distance between Madison and Lafayette is approximately 225 miles. The average train journey between these two cities takes 9 hours and 16 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 9 hours and 6 minutes. Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a patchy signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and films to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Distance (mi)

225

Distance (km)

362

Most days, there is only one train which leaves Madison at 11:30 and arrives in Lafayette around 9 hours later.

First train

11:30am

Last train

11:50am

Trains from Madison to Lafayette are the most crowded on Tuesday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider travelling on Tuesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

Busiest

Tuesday

Least crowded

Tuesday

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 Wisconsin–Madison. The building features a lakeview terrace filled with colourful 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 coach/train station in Madison is located on Collins Ct. The city is served by the Dane County Regional Airport, 6 miles northeast of downtown.

Lafayette

Lafayette, a quaint college town with a vibrant history, is a superb destination for fans of history and old buildings. The city's historic old quarter is a beautiful sight to behold, with some buildings dating back to the 19th century. A walk around this quarter will bring you back to the early days of the American Industrial Revolution. Don't miss out on the chance to visit Fort Ouiatenon, the first European fortified settlement in the area now called Indiana. If you are looking for a spot to enjoy a picnic with your friends and your family, head to historic Prophetstown State Park for plenty of activities; we're talking a water park, unique wildlife observation, camping, and a working farm dating back to the 1920s.

Lafayette's food scene offers a good mix of traditional dishes and modern ones. If you wish to enjoy genuine local specialities, South Street Smokehouse offers amazing homestyle dishes. For those who just can't have enough local pizzas, stop by Arni's, a pizzeria that has been around for more than 40 years.

Travel to Lafayette is easy thanks to multiple coach lines and the Amtrak Cardinal line, which runs through the city. The nearest major airport is about 60 miles away in Indianapolis, so ground travel is definitely your friend for this destination.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Madison?

Main departure station: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

There are two stations in Madison where you can board the train to Lafayette.

All train stations in Madison:

University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Dutch Mill Park & Ride Lot

Where is the train station in Lafayette?

Main arrival station: 200 N Second St

The Lafayette Amtrak Station is located in the heart of Downtown Lafayette right alongside the Wabash River. Originally built in 1902, the station is famous for its signature Romanesque Revival style. In 2003, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The only Amtrak line that serves the Lafayette station is the Cardinal, one of the most scenic train routes in the U.S. There is a local bus stop outside the station that connects it to the rest of Lafayette and the neighbouring areas via CityBus, the public transit bus service provided by the Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation. Thanks to the station's downtown location, there is a rich variety of bars and restaurants nearby.

Train stations in Lafayette:

200 N Second St

Need a return trip from Lafayette to Madison?

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