Wanderu Logo
United States flag
  • Canada
$
Log in
chiku-desktop

Cheap bus tickets from St Paul to Madison

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

chiku-mobile

Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Chiku

St Paul to Madison Bus Schedule

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Saint Paul to Madison?

There are usually 3 daily train trips available from Saint Paul to Madison.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$42.33
Avg. Price
$123.20
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
6
Daily Trips
3
Duration
Duration
5h 58m
Duration
12h 49m

Bus from St Paul to Madison: Journey Information

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 18 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 5 minutes.

Distance225 mi (362 km)
Shortest duration4h 5m
Cheapest price$29.00
Trips per day5
Most frequent serviceFlixBus US
Bus lines3

Wander into savings:
Get deals in your inbox!

Sign up to get the latest deals on bus & train tickets sent directly to you.

Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Saint Paul to Madison

(Based on 6 ratings and reviews)

4.7

5.0

Teresa

November 17, 2025- Visiting family

Jefferson Lines

Bus was very clean and comfortable.

5.0

Gregory

November 9, 2025- Visiting family

FlixBus US

Pros: Perfect bus ride. I had 120 volt outlets used them to charge phone and for a heating pad for my aching back Great view . Very comfortable. Super great trip. Much better than I thought it would be. Cons: Nothing. Tips: Try and book at a time when there's the least amount of passengers so you can have the seat all to yourself like I did.

5.0

Mark

January 22, 2023- Solo travel

Jefferson Lines

Pros: On time, didn’t waste time. Nice seat. Cons: Stop was a little early in the trip.

4.0

Kevin

October 23, 2022- Visiting family

Jefferson Lines

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

James

July 27, 2019- Solo travel

Megabus

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.

See more details

How much is a bus ticket from St Paul to Madison?

Bus tickets for a trip from St Paul to Madison cost $38.38 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.

Average bus ticket prices from St Paul to Madison by month

$75$60$45$30$15MAMJJASONDJF
Bus tickets from St Paul to Madison are at their cheapest average price in August. This time of year usually offers the best deals on bus tickets for this route, with ticket prices around $40. On the other hand, traveling on this route during March might cost you a bit more than usual. Bus tickets for March trips cost $54, on average. But no need to stress — booking your bus ticket in advance can help you snag cheaper tickets.

Prices as travel date approaches

$75$60$45$30$153020100

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 17 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $19.60 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from St Paul to Madison?

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:

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway110h 40m$105.00
FlixBus US45h 4m$51.82
Jefferson Lines27h 7m$29.00

  • Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Saint Paul to Madison start at $105. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.

  • 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 .

  • 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 7 hours and 7 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Madison in 4 hours and 5 minutes .

    On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Madison.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from St Paul to Madison

The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 18 minutes to cover the 225 miles from St Paul to Madison. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 5 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.

Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from St Paul to Madison for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Sunday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you are looking for less crowded buses to Madison, book your ticket for the last day of the week.

The first bus leaves at 8:00am and the last bus leaves at 12:00pm. 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.

City Information

St Paul

St. Paul, MN - STP-0

Image credit: Unsplash

St. Paul, MN - STP-1

Image credit: Unsplash

St. Paul, MN - STP-2

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.

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.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in St Paul?

Union Depot - STPAMT2-0

Image credit: David Wilson

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Union Depot

Located 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.

All bus stations in St Paul:

  • Union Depot

Where does the bus arrive in Madison?

Main arrival station: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

Buses arrive in Madison at 3 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.

All bus stations in Madison:

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

  • Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)

  • University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center

Get around town with Moovit

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Madison by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

From the Wanderu blog

Need a return trip from Madison to St Paul?

Search Bus Tickets

Plan your next adventure

More buses from St Paul

Continue by bus from Madison

Check out these popular routes

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

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. 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.