Chicago to Madison by train: 198 km

By rail the journey is about 2 h 41 min at the speeds typical of United States rail, over roughly 241 km (150 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.

Open Madison in Google Maps

The two ends, side by side
	Chicago	Madison
Country	United States	United States
Population	2.7 million	280,305
Elevation	180 m (591 ft)	272 m (892 ft)
Time now	UTC-5 (America/Chicago)	UTC-5 (America/Chicago)
Stations on record	LaSalle Street Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Millennium Station	Madison Milwaukee Road depot
Postal codes	60601–60701	53701–53794

Where to book trains from Chicago to Madison

AmtrakThe US national operator, and the only place to book most American rail. Fare tiers and refund rights are set at the point of sale, so booking direct matters here.Check times and fares on Amtrak

OmioCompares trains, buses and some flights across European operators in one search.Explore train options on Omio

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We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.

Staying in Madison

Live rooms and prices for Madison are in the search below.

Book a hotel in Madison

Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.

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Common questions

How far is Madison from Chicago?

198 km (123 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Chicago; by road roughly 241 km (150 mi).

How long does it take to get from Chicago to Madison by train?

About 2 h 41 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.

Is there a time difference between Chicago and Madison?

No, both are on America/Chicago at the moment.

Where these facts come from

GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines

Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.