Cheap bus tickets from Madison to Iowa City
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
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:
Madison to Iowa City Bus Schedule
Bus from Madison to Iowa City: Journey Information
There are 2 intercity buses per day from Madison to Iowa City. Traveling by bus from Madison to Iowa City usually takes around 10 hours and 5 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 9 hours and 10 minutes.
| Distance | 146 mi (235 km) |
| Shortest duration | 9h 10m |
| Cheapest price | SEK 439.27 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 2 |

What bus companies travel from Madison to Iowa City?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Madison to Iowa City that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 2 | 9h 18m | SEK 772.38 |
| Jefferson Lines | 1 | 15h 20m | SEK 1,605.34 |
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 Iowa City, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Book Jefferson Lines from Madison to Iowa City from SEK 1,605. Typically there is one Jefferson Lines schedule per day from Madison to Iowa City and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Iowa City. In Madison, Jefferson Lines departs to Iowa City from University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center . In Iowa City, Jefferson Lines arrives at Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St .
An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Madison to Iowa City takes 15 hours and 20 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Iowa City in 9 hours and 10 minutes .
On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Iowa City.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Madison to Iowa City
The bus takes an average of 10 hours and 5 minutes to cover the 146 miles from Madison to Iowa City. However, the fastest bus only takes 9 hours and 10 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 Iowa City. 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, 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 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00am. To see the times for all buses from Madison to Iowa City, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
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.
Iowa City

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Pixabay
The old capital city of Iowa, Iowa City, is a historic area with plenty of quaint old buildings and beautiful landmarks. The most notable attraction is the Old Capitol Building in the middle of the University of Iowa's campus. The building's first floor is a museum dedicated to the state's history so that you can brush up on your Hawkeye State knowledge (we'll get you started: the Iowa state rock is the geode!). For more history and culture, hit up Plum Grove, the home of the first Governor of Iowa, and the University of Iowa Art Museum.
Thanks to its lively cultural scene, Iowa City's food scene is vibrant and diverse. One of the must-try establishments in the city is Short's Burger and Shine, which features a wide variety of burgers made from locally sourced meat. In addition, the Hamburg Inn No. 2 is an award-winning restaurant, with visitors including many past presidents.
Bus service to Iowa City arrives right downtown for easy access to Iowa City's highlights. Although there is a small municipal airport in Iowa City, most commercial flights will depart from nearby Cedar Rapids Airport or even from Des Moines, about 100 miles away.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Madison?
Main departure station: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Madison has two bus stations with service to Iowa City.
All bus stations in Madison:
University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)
Where does the bus arrive in Iowa City?
Main arrival station: 731 S Riverside Dr
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Iowa City.
All bus stations in Iowa City:
731 S Riverside Dr
Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Iowa City to Madison?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Madison
- Madison to Long Beach Bus
SEK 2,816+
- Madison to Washington D.C. Bus
SEK 1,622+
- Madison to West Palm Beach
SEK 2,322+
- Madison to Des Moines Bus
SEK 1,101+
- Madison to Chicago Bus
SEK 350+
- Bus from Madison to Indianapolis
SEK 646+
- Bus from Madison to Ann Arbor
SEK 521+
- Madison to Detroit
SEK 673+
- Madison to Minneapolis Bus
SEK 367+
- Madison to Saint Paul Bus
SEK 277+
- Bus from Madison to St Louis
SEK 757+
- Madison to Columbus Bus
SEK 772+
- Madison to Eau Claire Bus
SEK 370+
- Madison to Fond du Lac Bus
SEK 244+
- Bus from Madison to Green Bay
SEK 349+
- Bus from Madison to Janesville
SEK 140+
- Bus from Madison to La Crosse
SEK 239+
- Bus from Madison to Milwaukee
SEK 191+
Continue by bus from Iowa City
- Bus from Ames to Des Moines
SEK 191+
- Cedar Rapids to Des Moines Bus
SEK 442+
- Cedar Rapids to Waterloo Bus
SEK 263+
- Cedar Rapids to Chicago Bus
SEK 726+
- Davenport to Chicago Bus
SEK 366+
- Davenport to Indianapolis Bus
SEK 590+
- Davenport to Milwaukee Bus
SEK 404+
- Des Moines to Iowa City Bus
SEK 315+
- Des Moines to Chicago
SEK 874+
- Dubuque to Chicago
SEK 659+
- Iowa City to Davenport Bus
SEK 220+
- Bus from Iowa City to Des Moines
SEK 384+
- Iowa City to Waterloo Bus
SEK 320+
- Bus from Iowa City to Chicago
SEK 430+
- Iowa City to St Louis Bus
SEK 798+
- Bus from Iowa City to Omaha
SEK 698+
- Ottumwa to Des Moines Bus
SEK 382+
- Waterloo to Des Moines
SEK 514+
Check out these popular routes
- Bus from Calgary to Edmonton
SEK 201+
- Bus from Vancouver to Seattle
SEK 353+
- Toronto to Ottawa Bus
SEK 205+
- Montreal to New York Bus
SEK 791+
- Washington D.C. to New York Bus
SEK 261+
- Boston to Portland Bus
SEK 253+
- Boston to New York
SEK 270+
- Bus from Portland to Boston
SEK 229+
- Brooklyn to Washington D.C. Bus
SEK 370+
- Brooklyn to Philadelphia
SEK 84+
- Bus from New York to Montreal
SEK 833+
- Bus from New York to Washington D.C.
SEK 265+
- Bus from New York to Boston
SEK 294+
- Bus from New York to Philadelphia
SEK 152+
- Bus from New York to Providence
SEK 385+
- Bus from Philadelphia to New York
SEK 154+
- Bus from Providence to New York
SEK 351+
- Seattle to Vancouver Bus
SEK 353+

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.
- Bus Tickets
- United States
- Iowa
- Iowa City
- Madison to Iowa City






