5.0
Pros: Very relaxing and comfortable. Cons: price is so high. Tips: get there on time.
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
There are 3 intercity buses per day from Madison to Appleton. Traveling by bus from Madison to Appleton usually takes around 4 hours and 21 minutes, but the fastest Megabus bus can make the trip in 2 hours and 55 minutes.
| Distance | 96 mi (154 km) |
| Shortest duration | 2h 55m |
| Cheapest price | $31.98 |
| Trips per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | Megabus |
| Bus lines | 2 |

Average score for buses from Madison to Appleton
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: Very relaxing and comfortable. Cons: price is so high. Tips: get there on time.
Bus tickets for a trip from Madison to Appleton cost $32.49 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.
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Madison to Appleton that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Megabus usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 2 | 9h 38m | $57.51 |
| Megabus | 2 | 3h 3m | $32.48 |
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 Appleton, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Book Megabus from Madison to Appleton from $32. There are 2 trips per day offered by Megabus from Madison to Appleton and you can expect on average to pay for a Megabus ticket to Appleton. In Madison, Megabus departs to Appleton from University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center and one other station. In Appleton, Megabus arrives at Appleton Transit Ctr .
An average trip on Megabus from Madison to Appleton takes 3 hours and 3 minutes , while the fastest available Megabus trip will get you to Appleton in 2 hours and 55 minutes .
On weekends, Megabus offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Appleton.
The bus takes an average of 4 hours and 21 minutes to cover the 96 miles from Madison to Appleton. However, the fastest bus only takes 2 hours and 55 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.
Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Appleton. 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, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
The first bus leaves at 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 2:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Madison to Appleton, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from Madison to Appleton every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 2 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 Madison to Appleton; ticket prices start at $56.00.



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.
Buses to Appleton leave from 4 stations in Madison.
Phillips 66
University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)
University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
All buses from Madison arrive at one main station in Appleton.
Appleton Transit Ctr

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.