There are 9 ways to get from Madison to Charleston by bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), bus, train, car, plane, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrakbus Madison
- Take the bus from Water & Chicago - Circle K to Phillips Gas Station - Arcolabus Milwaukee
8h 3m$120–180Drive 296.9 mi
cheapest- Drive from Madison to Charlestoncar 296.9 mi
5h 11m$55–79Bus, train via Milwaukee
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrakbus
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Mattoon Amtrak Stationtrain
8h 37m$190–305Fly Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to University Of Illinois Willard Airport, taxi
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to University Of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI)plane MSN - CMI
- Take the taxi from University Of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI) to Charlestontaxi
5h 49m$157–452Bus, 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 Mattoon Amtrak Stationtrain Saluki / ...
8h 33m$151–246Bus, train #2
- Take the bus from Madison to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Downtown Chicago to Illinois Terminalbus
- Take the train from Champaign-Urbana to Mattoon Amtrak Stationtrain
9h 59m$101–160Fly Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Decatur Airport, taxi
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Decatur Airport (DEC)plane MSN - DEC
- Take the taxi from Decatur Airport (DEC) to Charlestontaxi
6h 19m$177–472Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to University Of Illinois Willard Airport, taxi
- 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 University Of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI)plane ORD - CMI
- Take the taxi from University Of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI) to Charlestontaxi
6h 10m$164–440Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Decatur Airport, taxi
- 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 Decatur Airport (DEC)plane ORD - DEC
- Take the taxi from Decatur Airport (DEC) to Charlestontaxi
6h 24m$184–460
Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to University Of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Madison to Charleston is to drive which costs $50 - $80 and takes 5h 11m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to Charleston is to drive which takes 5h 11m and costs $50 - $80.
No, there is no direct bus from Madison to Charleston station. However, there are services departing from Madison, WI-Lake St. and arriving at Phillips Gas Station - Arcola via Water & Chicago - Circle K. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 3m.
The distance between Madison and Charleston is 357 miles. The road distance is 298.6 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to Charleston without a car is to bus which takes 8h 3m and costs $120 - $180.
It takes approximately 8h 3m to get from Madison to Charleston, including transfers.
Madison to Charleston bus services, operated by Badger Bus, depart from Madison, WI-Lake St. station.
Madison to Charleston bus services, operated by Badger Bus, arrive at Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak station.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Charleston is 299 miles. It takes approximately 5h 11m to drive from Madison to Charleston.
There are 17+ hotels available in Charleston.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and Charleston, IL, USA?
You can take a bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Charleston via Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak, Water & Chicago - Circle K, and Phillips Gas Station - Arcola in around 8h 3m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to University Of Illinois Willard Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to University Of Illinois Willard Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 7m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to University Of Illinois Willard Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–250
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Decatur Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Decatur Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–250
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Mattoon Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Mattoon Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Champaign-Urbana to Mattoon Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $24–40
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- [email protected]
- Website
- Badger Bus
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–30
- Website
- Badger Bus
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–30
- Website
- Badger Bus
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–21
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–21
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Madison to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–40
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $29–40
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–40
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $29–40
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–19
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–19
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Madison to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $26–40
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Downtown Chicago to Illinois Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–35
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- 920 496 3600
- Website
- example.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $19–22
- Schedules at
- golamers.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $19–22
- Schedules at
- golamers.com
- Phone
- +1 888 358 6762
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tornado Bus Company
Bus from Water & Chicago - Circle K to Phillips Gas Station - Arcola
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Schedules at
- Tornado Bus Company
- Adult
- $50–75
- 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 O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
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
- Phone
- +1 800-448-0572
- [email protected]
- Website
- Peoria Charter
Bus from Downtown Chicago to Illinois Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Website
- Peoria Charter
- Schedules at
- Peoria Charter Schedules
- cash
- $60
- online
- $45
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- Estimated price
- $110–160
Yellow Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 217-355-3553
- Website
- yellowcheckercabchampaign.com
Yellow Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 217-355-3553
- Website
- yellowcheckercabchampaign.com
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide















