There are 9 ways to get from Madison to California by plane, bus, train, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to San Diego International Airport
best- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane MSN - SAN
8h 2m$184–857Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport
cheapest- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane ORD - SAN
7h 7m$136–545Bus, train
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton Stbus Van Galder
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angelestrain Southwest Chief / ...
2d$526–1,356Bus
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton Stbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
2d 4h$361–601Drive 1,957.2 mi
- Drive from Madison to Los Angelescar 1,957.2 mi
31h 7m$358–516Fly Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to John Wayne Airport Orange County
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to John Wayne Airport Orange County (SNA)plane MSN - SNA
8h 6m$282–1,167Fly Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Los Angeles International Airport
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane MSN - LAX
8h 36m$149–665Fly Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Fresno Yosemite International Airport
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)plane MSN - FAT
9h 31m$173–803Bus to General Mitchell International Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mitchell Airportbus
- Fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane MKE - SAN
7h 57m$193–837
Madison to California by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Madison to California is to bus and fly which costs $130 - $550 and takes 7h 7m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to California is to bus and fly which takes 7h 7m and costs $130 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from Madison to California station. However, there are services departing from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus and arriving at Los Angeles Union Station via Chicago Bus Station and St Louis Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 4h.
The distance between Madison and California is 1691 miles. The road distance is 1968.6 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to California without a car is to bus and train which takes 2 days 0h and costs $500 - $1,400.
It takes approximately 8h 2m to get from Madison to California, including transfers.
Madison to California bus services, operated by Rockland Coaches, depart from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus station.
The best way to get from Madison to California is to fly which takes 8h 2m and costs $180 - $900. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $360 - $600 and takes 2 days 4h.
Madison to California bus services, operated by Rockland Coaches, arrive at W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St station.
California is 2h behind Madison. It is currently 9:21 PM in Madison and 7:21 PM in California.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and California, USA?
American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to Los Angeles Union Station via W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St, Chicago Bus Station, and St Louis Bus Station in around 2d 4h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–850
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to San Diego International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–900
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–490
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Los Angeles International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 43h 32m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $500–1,300
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 (866) 912 - 6224
- [email protected]
- Website
- Rockland Coaches
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $26–60
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $26–60
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $26–60
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $26–60
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to California is 1969 miles. It takes approximately 31h 7m to drive from Madison to California.
There are 3388+ hotels available in California.






