There are 6 ways to get from San Diego to Madison by plane, train, bus, 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 to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field
best- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN)plane SAN - MSN
6h 43m$148–644Fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, bus
cheapest- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane SAN - ORD
- Take the bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus
8h 8m$99–434Train, bus
- Take the train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus
2d 2h$1,282–2,042Bus
- Take the bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus
2d 7h$398–648Drive 2,018.1 mi
- Drive from San Diego to Madisoncar 2,018.1 mi
32h 12m$369–532Fly to General Mitchell International Airport, bus
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)plane SAN - MKE
- Take the bus from Mitchell Airport to Madison, WI-Lake St.bus
6h 50m$159–642
San Diego to Madison by train and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Madison is to fly and bus which costs $95 - $440 and takes 8h 8m.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Madison is to fly which takes 6h 43m and costs $140 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from San Diego to Madison. However, there are services departing from San Diego and arriving at 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus via Los Angeles Union Station, St Louis Bus Station and W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 7h.
The distance between San Diego and Madison is 1686 miles. The road distance is 2029.9 miles.
The best way to get from San Diego to Madison without a car is to train and bus which takes 2 days 2h and costs $1,200 - $2,100.
It takes approximately 6h 43m to get from San Diego to Madison, including transfers.
San Diego to Madison bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from San Diego station.
The best way to get from San Diego to Madison is to fly which takes 6h 43m and costs $140 - $650. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $390 - $650 and takes 2 days 7h.
San Diego to Madison bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station.
Madison is 2h ahead of San Diego. It is currently 1:14 AM in San Diego and 3:14 AM in Madison.
What companies run services between San Diego, CA, USA and Madison, WI, USA?
United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from San Diego to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus via Los Angeles Union Station, St Louis Bus Station, Chicago Bus Station, and W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St in around 2d 7h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from San Diego International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–330
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–340
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–750
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–330
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–700
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–850
Flights from San Diego International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–650
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 42h 47m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1,200–1,900
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 (866) 912 - 6224
- [email protected]
- Website
- Rockland Coaches
Bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $25–55
Bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $25–55
Bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–28
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Mitchell Airport to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–20
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $310–490
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- [email protected]
- Website
- Badger Bus
Bus from Mitchell Airport to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $24–35
- Website
- Badger Bus
- Phone
- 920 496 3600
- Website
- example.com
Bus from Mitchell Airport to Madison, WI-Lake St.
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–24
- Schedules at
- golamers.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
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between San Diego to Madison is 2030 miles. It takes approximately 32h 12m to drive from San Diego to Madison.
Book your San Diego to Madison bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 140+ hotels available in Madison.











