Cheap bus tickets from Rochester to Madison

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Bus from Rochester to Madison: Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Rochester to Madison. Traveling by bus from Rochester to Madison usually takes around 4 hours and 36 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Distance
167 mi (269 km)
Shortest duration
4h 25m
Cheapest price
$29.00
Trips per day
1
Most frequent service
Jefferson Lines
Bus lines
1

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Chiku

Rochester to Madison Bus Schedule

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Rochester to Madison (Based on 6 ratings and reviews)

5.0

5.0

Nell

June 29, 2025 - Vacation

Jefferson Lines
Pros: Travel under someone else's responsibility this means that I was able to work on my assignment while trusting on the driver to get me to my destination Cons: Work on time management but was understanding Tips: Good

5.0

Gokul

November 6, 2023 - Regular commuter

Jefferson Lines
Cons: Outlets for charging and better wi-fi

5.0

Nicole

July 7, 2022 - Visiting family

Jefferson Lines
Pros: Trip was super easy and on time. Driver was very kind and helpful Cons: WiFi limit was frustrating

5.0

Billy

March 25, 2022 - Visiting friends

Jefferson Lines
Pros: It was cheaper and it was a very fast trip to be honest.. I would have many more trips in the future Cons: I guess to further accomadate covid it would be nice to have better seating assigned and not so much moving around. Tips: Yes try to not move around alot. I mean I was comfortable but It was a lot of people moving around alot for seating.

5.0

Stephanie

May 24, 2020 - Visiting family

Jefferson Lines
Pros: not many people on board Cons: i wish it were a bit cheaper Tips: n/a
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Price trends for buses from Rochester to Madison

Average bus ticket prices from Rochester to Madison by travel date

$30$20$10AugSep

Average bus ticket prices from Rochester to Madison by month

$50$40$30$20$10JFMAMJJASOND

Prices as travel date approaches

$50$40$30$20$100

What bus companies travel from Rochester to Madison?

There are multiple buses that travel from Rochester to Madison, including Jefferson Lines. Here is what you should know about the 1 most popular bus lines:

BUSDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Jefferson Lines14h 36m$29.00
  • Book Jefferson Lines from Rochester to Madison from $29. Typically there is one Jefferson Lines schedule per day from Rochester to Madison and you can expect on average to pay $29 for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Madison. In Rochester, Jefferson Lines departs to Madison from Rochester Fuel Stop. In Madison, Jefferson Lines arrives at University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center.

    An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Rochester to Madison takes 4 hours and 36 minutes, while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Madison in 4 hours and 25 minutes.

    On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay $29 for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Madison.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Rochester to Madison

There is usually only one bus per day from Rochester to Madison. Fortunately, this happens to be a direct bus, meaning that you do not have to get on a different bus at any point during your trip.

TRIPS PER DAY

1

DIRECT TRIPS

1

The bus takes an average of 4 hours and 36 minutes to cover the 167 miles from Rochester to Madison. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 25 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.

DISTANCE (MI)

167

DISTANCE (KM)

269

There is usually only one bus per day from Rochester to Madison. It leaves the station in Rochester at 4:40pm each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.

EARLIEST BUS

1:05pm

LATEST BUS

4:40pm

Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, 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.

MOST CROWDED

Thursday

LEAST CROWDED

Monday

City Information

Madison

MSI-0MSI-1MSI-2

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 Rochester?

Main departure station: Rochester Fuel Stop

Most buses depart from the main station in Rochester.

All bus stations in Rochester:

  • Rochester Fuel Stop

Where does the bus arrive in Madison?

Main arrival station: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

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

All bus stations in Madison:

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

Need a return trip from Madison to Rochester?

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