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There are usually 5 daily train trips available from Saint Paul to Madison.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$39.47 | Avg. Price$148.35 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips6 | Daily Trips5 |
Duration | Duration6h 31m | Duration12h 29m |
There are 6 intercity buses per day from St Paul to Madison. Traveling by bus from St Paul to Madison usually takes around 5 hours and 43 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 40 minutes.
| Distance | 225 mi (362 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 40m |
| Cheapest price | $29.00 |
| Trips per day | 5 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Average score for buses from Saint Paul to Madison
(Based on 4 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: On time, didn’t waste time. Nice seat. Cons: Stop was a little early in the trip.
4.0
Pros: Price and availability to get from Minneapolis area to Madison. Cons: Bus was very full and wished it could have been more direct with a stop at the DutchMill bus station in Madison.
4.0
Pros: On time and very comfortable. Cons: I think it was fine and can think of no changes to be made. Tips: I would recommend your bus.
Bus tickets for a trip from St Paul to Madison cost $37.36 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from St Paul to Madison is expected to be between $37 and $72. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is December 4, 2024, when tickets are available for December 4, 2024. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just $37.
Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 28 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $9.99 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
There are 3 bus lines from St Paul to Madison available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 4 daily trips, FlixBus US usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 4 | 5h 20m | $50.49 |
| Greyhound | 1 | 10h 55m | $77.02 |
| Jefferson Lines | 2 | 9h 13m | $30.23 |
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 4 trips per day from Saint Paul to Madison, 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 1 bus trips from Saint Paul to Madison every day, with the average journey taking around 10 hours and 55 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Madison usually start from $69.
Book Jefferson Lines from Saint Paul to Madison from $29. There are 2 trips per day offered by Jefferson Lines from St Paul to Madison and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Madison. In Saint Paul, Jefferson Lines departs to Madison from Union Depot . In Madison, Jefferson Lines arrives at University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center .
An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Saint Paul to Madison takes 9 hours and 13 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Madison in 4 hours and 40 minutes .
On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Madison.
The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 43 minutes to cover the 225 miles from St Paul to Madison. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 40 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.
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Madison at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 3:00pm. To see the times for all buses from St Paul to Madison, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 6 scheduled buses that travel from St Paul to Madison every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 5 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 St Paul to Madison; ticket prices start at $74.00.
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Saint Paul is the capital of Minnesota, and is one of the Twin Cities, along with its neighbor across the Mississippi River, Minneapolis. As the seat of Minnesota's government, Saint Paul offers historic and cultural attractions which represent both the state and the American Midwest as a whole.
For a comprehensive introduction to the region's history, start your trip at the Minnesota History Center, just down the street from the grounds of the State Capitol building. There are museums in Saint Paul for all types of interests, including the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Schubert Club Musical Instrument Museum. For an extra dash of Saint Paul history, take a stroll down Summit Avenue, a stylish street of drool-worthy Victorian houses and mansions, including the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
If you're brave enough to visit Saint Paul during the freezing winters, you'll be rewarded with the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, a yearly event where you can explore ice palaces, watch live ice sculpting, and compete in city-wide scavenger hunts. Saint Paul is also one of the country's best cities for craft beer, so save time to taste some local ales or even brew your own beer at Vine Park Brewing Co.
Saint Paul is a hub for travel in the Midwest thanks in part to Amtrak's Empire Builder train service which stops at Saint Paul Union Depot. Bus service from stations throughout town and nearby Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport make it easy to travel to and from this saintly city.
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.
Image credit: David Wilson
Link to image attributionLocated right on the banks of the Mississippi River in Saint Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood, Union Depot has a remarkable history dating back to 1881. It remains the major transport hub of Saint Paul, as well as the designated station for Amtrak service in the Twin Cities. Besides the long-haul Empire Builder train, the station serves Jefferson Lines and Greyhound intercity buses and connects to local public transit. Within the Union Depot complex, you’ll find a coffee shop, restaurant, bike shop, rental car agency, and can even join a public tour to admire the architecture and learn about the station’s storied past.
Union Depot
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Madison.
University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)
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