There are 6 ways to get from San Francisco to Madison by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, bus, 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 San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field
best- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN)plane SFO - MSN
8h 26m$192–814Fly San Francisco International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, bus
cheapest- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane SFO - ORD
- Take the bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus
9h 52m$154–397Bus
- Take the bus from San Francisco Bus Station to Sparks Transit Centerbus
- Take the bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union 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 6h$392–753Train, bus
- Take the train from Richmond to Chicago Union Stationtrain California Zephyr
- Take the bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus Van Galder
2d 10h$780–1,661Drive 2,069.9 mi
- Drive from San Francisco to Madisoncar 2,069.9 mi
32h 27m$378–546Caltrain to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field
- Take the train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to Santa Clara Caltrain Southboundtrain
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN)plane SJC - MSN
9h 19m$224–916
San Francisco to Madison by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Francisco to Madison is to fly and bus which costs $150 - $400 and takes 9h 52m.
The fastest way to get from San Francisco to Madison is to fly which takes 8h 26m and costs $190 - $850.
No, there is no direct bus from San Francisco station to Madison. However, there are services departing from San Francisco Bus Station and arriving at 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus via Sparks Transit Center, Denver Union Station and W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 6h.
The distance between San Francisco and Madison is 1800 miles. The road distance is 2082 miles.
The best way to get from San Francisco to Madison without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 6h and costs $390 - $800.
It takes approximately 8h 26m to get from San Francisco to Madison, including transfers.
San Francisco to Madison bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from San Francisco Bus Station.
The best way to get from San Francisco to Madison is to fly which takes 8h 26m and costs $190 - $850. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $390 - $800 and takes 2 days 6h.
San Francisco to Madison bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Sparks Transit Center station.
Madison is 2h ahead of San Francisco. It is currently 8:16 AM in San Francisco and 10:16 AM in Madison.
What companies run services between San Francisco, CA, USA and Madison, WI, USA?
Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from San Francisco Bus Station to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus via Sparks Transit Center, Denver Union Station, Chicago Bus Station, and W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St in around 2d 6h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–420
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Omaha
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 12m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–420
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,000
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–420
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–420
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 18m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $100–430
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Richmond to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $750–1,600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to Santa Clara Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–12
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $9–12
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from San Francisco Bus Station to Sparks Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–320
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Denver Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $160–310
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (866) 912 - 6224
- [email protected]
- Website
- coachusa.com
Bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Schedules at
- coachusa.com
- Adult
- $25–55
Bus from W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Schedules at
- coachusa.com
- Adult
- $25–55
Bus from Multi-Modal/Rental Car Facility to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- coachusa.com
- Adult
- $23–50
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
More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between San Francisco to Madison is 2082 miles. It takes approximately 32h 27m to drive from San Francisco to Madison.
Book your San Francisco to Madison bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 135+ hotels available in Madison.












