Badger Bus Schedule: Routes, Times & Stops
The Badger Bus schedule covers intercity motorcoach travel between Madison and Milwaukee, including Johnson Creek, Goerke’s Corners, Milwaukee Intermodal Station and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Badger Bus also publishes Friday and Sunday college-connection service between Madison, Eau Claire, Menomonie, Bloomington/Mall of America and the University of Minnesota.
Use this guide to check actual published departures, boarding locations, airport arrivals, online ticket prices versus cash fares, baggage rules, seat reservations and service changes before traveling.
Where Can I Find the Current Badger Bus Schedule?
The official Badger Bus schedule page publishes downloadable timetables for Madison–Milwaukee and Madison–Minnesota service. For the final departure time and actual ticket availability, use Badger Bus’s own online booking system.
The Madison–Milwaukee PDF lists four departures each way on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Friday and Sunday have six departures each way. The separate Minnesota connection is listed on Friday and Sunday.
What Cities Does Badger Bus Serve?
Badger Bus is a scheduled intercity motorcoach company, not the Milwaukee County Transit System or Madison Metro Transit. It operates between selected cities and designated boarding points rather than stopping at every local bus stop along the road.
Main Madison–Milwaukee Corridor
The main line travels from UW–Madison through Johnson Creek and Brookfield/Waukesha to downtown Milwaukee and Mitchell Airport on applicable trips.
Return trips serve the airport, Milwaukee Intermodal, Goerke’s Corners and Johnson Creek before reaching the UW–Madison campus stop.
Friday and Sunday college-oriented trips connect Madison with Eau Claire, Menomonie, Bloomington and the University of Minnesota campus.
The UWM Union stop is a special exception: selected Friday/Sunday trips may serve it during the university’s fall and spring semesters, and the operator states that travel involving this stop requires a transfer at Milwaukee Intermodal.
Badger Bus Madison to Milwaukee Schedule
The following times are transcribed from Badger Bus’s linked Madison–Milwaukee timetable PDF. They show scheduled departures and arrivals, not live bus-tracking information. Schedules are subject to change and booking availability should always be checked for the exact travel date.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
| UW–Madison departure | Johnson Creek | Goerke’s Corners | Milwaukee Intermodal | Mitchell Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:30 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:05 AM | 8:30 AM |
| 10:00 AM | 10:35 AM | 11:15 AM | 11:30 AM | 11:55 AM |
| 3:00 PM | 3:35 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:20 PM |
| 5:30 PM | 6:15 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:40 PM |
Friday and Sunday
Friday and Sunday have two additional Madison departure slots, at 12:30 PM and 8:45 PM, in the published timetable.
| UW–Madison departure | Milwaukee Intermodal | Mitchell Airport | UWM Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:30 AM | 8:05 AM | 8:30 AM | Not served |
| 10:00 AM | 11:30 AM | 11:55 AM | Not served |
| 12:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 2:25 PM | 2:30 PM* |
| 3:00 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:25 PM* |
| 5:30 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:40 PM | 7:45 PM* |
| 8:45 PM | 10:15 PM | Not served | 10:35 PM* |
*UWM Union service is conditional on fall/spring semester operation and transfer arrangements. The operator’s schedule marks no airport service on the 8:45 PM Madison departure.
Badger Bus Milwaukee to Madison Schedule
These are published reverse-direction times. Milwaukee Mitchell Airport is the starting point for the main Milwaukee-to-Madison trips; downtown Milwaukee passengers join at Milwaukee Intermodal.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
| Mitchell Airport | Milwaukee Intermodal | Goerke’s Corners | Johnson Creek | UW–Madison arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:55 AM | 8:45 AM |
| 9:35 AM | 10:00 AM | 10:15 AM | 10:50 AM | 11:30 AM |
| 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:50 PM | 4:20 PM | 5:15 PM |
| 5:35 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:20 PM | 6:50 PM | 7:35 PM |
Friday and Sunday
| Mitchell Airport | Milwaukee Intermodal | UW–Madison arrival |
|---|---|---|
| 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 8:45 AM |
| 9:35 AM | 10:00 AM | 11:30 AM |
| 12:05 PM | 12:30 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM | 5:15 PM |
| 5:35 PM | 6:00 PM | 7:35 PM |
| 8:20 PM | 8:45 PM | 10:15 PM |
How Long Does Badger Bus Take?
Ride time varies with the destination and timetable. The following examples are calculated from the company’s published schedule; they are not traffic-adjusted live predictions.
6:30 AM UW–Madison departure to 8:05 AM Intermodal arrival.
6:30 AM Madison departure to 8:30 AM airport arrival.
7:00 AM Intermodal departure to 8:45 AM Madison arrival.
Add enough time for walking to the boarding stop, checking your ticket, loading luggage, possible highway delays and reaching the final destination. The company states that arrival times cannot be guaranteed.
Badger Bus Madison, Eau Claire and Minneapolis Schedule
Badger Bus operates a separate college connection linking UW–Madison with UW–Eau Claire, Menomonie, Bloomington and the University of Minnesota. The operator’s published schedule lists service on Friday and Sunday, rather than an everyday timetable.
| Stop | Friday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| UW–Madison, North Lake Street | 10:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| UW–Eau Claire campus | 12:45 PM | 12:45 PM |
| Menomonie, Walmart parking lot | 1:15 PM | 1:15 PM |
| IKEA / Mall of America, Bloomington | 2:35 PM | 2:35 PM |
| University of Minnesota campus | 3:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
The PDF also lists a University of Minnesota return departure at 3:30 PM and an arrival at UW–Madison at 8:15 PM on Friday and Sunday. Confirm the current return pattern in the booking engine before reserving, especially around academic breaks and holidays.
Badger Bus Stop Addresses and Boarding Instructions
Badger Bus uses specific curbside stops, airport pickup points and bus-station gates. A city name by itself is not enough to identify where to board.
| Stop | Address | Boarding details |
|---|---|---|
| UW–Madison campus | 200 block of N Lake Street, Madison, WI | Between Johnson and Dayton, across from Witte Hall, near the city bus shelters. No parking on North Lake Street. |
| Johnson Creek | 575 Linmar Lane, Johnson Creek, WI 53038 | Near Johnson Creek Premium Outlets and Arby’s. Use the shelters labeled toward Madison or Milwaukee. Online-ticket requirements apply. |
| Goerke’s Corners | 469 N Barker Road, Brookfield, WI 53054 | Park-and-ride at Bluemound Road / Barker Road. Wait at the southernmost commuter-bus shelter. Online only. |
| Milwaukee Intermodal | 433 W St Paul Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203 | Badger Bus uses Gate 6. This is its main downtown Milwaukee stop. |
| Milwaukee Mitchell Airport | 5300 S Howell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53207 | Outside baggage claim Door 2; cross to the next island to reach the Badger Bus stop. |
| UW–Milwaukee Union | 2200 E Kenwood Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI 53211 | Northwest corner of Kenwood/Farwell. Selected Friday/Sunday semester service; requires Intermodal transfer. |
| UW–Eau Claire | Towers Hall, Eau Claire, WI 54701 | University Drive near Garfield Avenue; Friday/Sunday college connection. |
| Menomonie Walmart | 180 Cedar Falls Road, Menomonie, WI 54751 | Near the Cenex station entrance of the Walmart parking lot; Friday/Sunday service. |
| Bloomington IKEA | 8000 IKEA Way, Bloomington, MN 55425 | East side of the IKEA parking lot near American Boulevard / IKEA Way; not directly at the store entrance. |
| University of Minnesota | 1000 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 | Southeast corner of Huron Boulevard and Delaware Street; look for the bus stop sign. |
Milwaukee Intermodal Badger Bus Pickup Map
Milwaukee Intermodal Station is the main downtown stop and provides connections to Amtrak, other intercity carriers and nearby MCTS local transit.
- Travel to 433 W St Paul Avenue.
- Enter the bus-station area.
- Find the designated Badger Bus departure point at Gate 6.
- Have your email ticket or printed ticket ready.
- Wait at the correct gate at least 15 minutes before departure.
The map shows the station area; follow Badger Bus’s official Gate 6 instruction and any posted temporary signs. Google Maps is not a live Badger Bus schedule.
Badger Bus to Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (MKE)
Badger Bus provides direct scheduled coach trips from Madison toward Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on applicable departures. This can be convenient for UW–Madison students and travelers who do not wish to drive to the airport.
Madison’s published 6:30 AM departure reaches Mitchell Airport at approximately 8:30 AM.
Exit baggage claim Door 2, then use the marked crossing to reach the next island and Badger Bus stop.
Allow ample time after the bus arrives for terminal entry, luggage drop, security and walking to your airline gate.
Badger Bus vs. Chicago O’Hare Airport Service
Badger Bus’s Milwaukee line serves Mitchell Airport (MKE), not Chicago O’Hare (ORD). For Madison–O’Hare service, compare the separate Van Galder Madison to Chicago O’Hare bus schedule before choosing a carrier.
Badger Bus Ticket Prices: Online vs. Cash
Badger Bus online ticket prices depend on the travel date, origin, destination and selected departure. The company’s official FAQ provides specific cash-fare examples but does not publish one fixed online fare for every route.
Madison to Milwaukee
Example one-way exact-cash price at the bus.
Example one-way exact-cash price at the bus.
Fare shown during booking; eligible online purchases reserve a seat on the selected departure.
Higher one-way fare; boarding depends on remaining seats after online ticket holders.
Five- or ten-ticket packs for selected Madison–Milwaukee journeys; each journey must still be redeemed and booked.
Children’s Ticket Discounts
Badger Bus publishes a free-travel rule for one child under age 2 accompanying a full-fare adult when not occupying a separate seat. Children ages 2–11 may qualify for a 50% discount when their tickets are purchased with the accompanying adult’s ticket. Separately purchased child tickets may be charged the full fare.
How to Buy a Badger Bus Ticket Online
Online booking is the most reliable way to secure a seat because Badger Bus allocates available capacity to passengers with confirmed bookings before accepting space-available cash riders.
Use Badger Bus’s official Buy Tickets link.
Select origin, destination and travel date.
Review the exact available departure and stop.
Enter passenger details and use an accepted online card.
Bring the emailed confirmation on your phone or as a printout.
How Early Must You Book?
Badger Bus states that ordinary online tickets must be purchased at least 30 minutes before the first stop on the route, not necessarily 30 minutes before your own intermediate boarding time.
The separate stop-locations page requires booking at least one hour ahead for online-only locations. To avoid losing eligibility, book well in advance and follow whichever requirement is stricter for your selected stop.
How to Change an Existing Ticket
- Open your Badger Bus booking account.
- Sign in using the customer number and password associated with your transaction.
- Open Transactions and locate your booking.
- Choose the self-service change option.
- Select a replacement travel date or departure time.
- Review the change fee and availability before confirming.
Badger Bus lists a self-service change fee of 10% of the original ticket price. Changes must be completed at least one hour before the scheduled departure and are subject to available seats. Online tickets are generally non-refundable, and a change is not permitted once the original trip time has passed.
Badger Bundles: Five- and Ten-Ticket Packs
Badger Bundles are designed for customers who travel frequently between Madison and selected Milwaukee-area destinations. The operator offers five-ticket and ten-ticket packages.
The passenger name can be changed during booking. The purchaser does not necessarily have to be the person taking every trip.
Badger Bus states that bundle tickets expire one year after purchase.
How to Redeem a Bundle Ticket
- Log in to your account.
- Open Redeemable Items or use your redemption code.
- Choose the travel direction.
- Select the trip date and available departure.
- Confirm the passenger’s name.
- Complete redemption and save the ticket confirmation.
Having an unused bundle ticket does not by itself reserve a seat on a specific bus. You must redeem the item for an actual departure before travel.
Check Official Badger Bundle OptionsBadger Bus Luggage, Carry-On and Bicycle Rules
One bag in the luggage compartment per adult ticket.
One small carry-on that fits overhead or beneath your seat.
Subject to available luggage-compartment space and the applicable fee.
| Item | Published rule | Extra guidance |
|---|---|---|
| First stored bag | Included with applicable ticket | Maximum 50 lb; sum of length, width and height not above 62 inches. |
| Carry-on | One small item | Must fit overhead or below the passenger seat. |
| Second stored bag | $5 | Extra fee payable online or in exact cash to the driver. |
| Bicycle | $10 | Cash fee, subject to space. Not guaranteed on busy travel days. |
| Medication and valuables | Keep with passenger | Do not place essential medicines or valuables in the under-bus compartment. |
Badger Bus advertises onboard restrooms, reclining seats, air conditioning and Wi-Fi on its coach services. Amenities and connectivity can vary by vehicle or operational conditions.
Wheelchair-Accessible Badger Bus Travel
Badger Bus offers lift-equipped vehicles for passengers who require accessible boarding. The operator recommends purchasing online and selecting the Additional Services option during the Passenger Details stage so the appropriate wheelchair accommodation can be arranged.
Choose the required additional service during online booking and contact Badger Bus about accommodation needs.
The published accessibility instructions specify size and combined-weight limits for lift-equipped boarding. Confirm suitability before booking.
Reach the stop ahead of departure and allow sufficient time for boarding, securing a mobility aid or stowing equipment.
Trained service animals are permitted under the operator’s applicable policy. Ordinary pets follow different restrictions and should be discussed with Badger Bus before travel.
Badger Bus Delays, Stop Closures and Service Notices
The published timetable is a useful planning document, but traffic, weather, road construction, holiday travel and operational events can change the journey. Badger Bus does not present its static PDF timetable as a live vehicle-position tracker.
East Washington/East Johnson and East Johnson/Pinckney courtesy stops were phased out after September 1, 2026.
Road congestion, accidents, winter weather or construction can increase the scheduled travel time.
UWM Union and Minnesota college-route availability can depend on the published operating pattern and academic period.
Does Badger Bus Have Live Arrival Tracking?
Badger Bus publishes planned timetables and online trip availability, but this guide has not verified a public Badger Bus stop-by-stop GPS arrival tracker equivalent to a city transit bus tracker.
Use the official booking platform for an up-to-date offered departure, then contact Badger Bus if you need information about a particular delayed or disrupted trip. Do not assume a Google Maps prediction or old screenshot confirms that a specific coach is on time.
Search the selected travel date and origin.
Match the exact bus and destination.
Look for stop removals, weather and operational changes.
Be ready 15 minutes before the listed departure.
Contact ticketing support with your trip details.
Badger Bus Contact Number, Email and Lost & Found
Ticket/schedule support number listed on the operator’s contact page.
Include the booking or transaction number when asking about an existing ticket.
Badger Bus directs riders to its online lost-item form rather than handling lost-property claims by phone.
Open Official Contact PageBadger Bus Travel Checklist
- Choose the correct Madison–Milwaukee or Minnesota route.
- Confirm your exact date and departure.
- Check whether a Friday/Sunday-only trip applies.
- Book online ahead of the applicable cutoff.
- Confirm the actual stop, direction and gate.
- Avoid the discontinued Madison courtesy stops.
- Carry the emailed ticket or printed confirmation.
- Arrive about 15 minutes before the scheduled departure.
- Check luggage weight and dimensions.
- Allow a sensible buffer before flights or train connections.
- Check the operator’s travel alerts.
- Confirm the return trip and its pickup location.
Official Badger Bus Timetables and Booking Links
These resources are hosted or linked by Badger Bus. Use them for the current schedule, ticket prices, boarding details and policies.
Official Madison–Milwaukee and Minnesota timetable links.
Open Schedule PagePublished departure-time tables used for the main schedule examples in this article.
Open Timetable PDFOfficial Friday/Sunday Madison–Minnesota route timetable.
Open Minnesota Schedule LinkSearch currently offered trips and online prices by date, origin and destination.
Search TicketsOfficial addresses, airport directions, bus shelters and online-only stops.
Open Location GuideOnline payment, cash rules, refunds, ticket changes, baggage and accessibility.
Read Official FAQFive- and ten-ticket packs, expiration and redemption instructions.
View Bundle DetailsDiscontinued courtesy stops and other current operational notices.
Open Travel AlertsResearch reviewed: October 9, 2026. The main times are based on the operator-linked published PDF, while ticket availability and operational information may change without notice.
Independent website disclosure: BusSchedule.us is an independent schedule-information website. It does not operate Badger Bus, reserve seats, determine ticket prices or guarantee service. Confirm your specific trip directly with the carrier.
Badger Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the Badger Bus schedule from Madison to Milwaukee?
The published timetable lists UW–Madison departures at 6:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 3:00 PM and 5:30 PM on Monday–Thursday and Saturday. Friday and Sunday also have departures at 12:30 PM and 8:45 PM.
Where does Badger Bus stop in Milwaukee?
The main downtown stop is Milwaukee Intermodal Station at 433 W St Paul Avenue, Gate 6. Applicable trips also serve Milwaukee Mitchell Airport. Selected semester trips serve the UWM Union with a transfer arrangement.
How much is a Badger Bus ticket?
Online prices vary by travel date, route and departure. The operator lists example exact-cash one-way fares of $30 from Madison to Milwaukee Intermodal and $35 from Madison to Mitchell Airport. Cash seats are not guaranteed.
How early should I arrive for Badger Bus?
Plan to be at the correct pickup location around 15 minutes before scheduled departure. Badger Bus states that online passengers must be ready at least 10 minutes early to maintain the advance-seat guarantee.
Does Badger Bus go to Milwaukee Airport?
Yes. Selected Madison–Milwaukee trips serve Mitchell International Airport. The published pickup location is outside baggage claim Door 2, across to the next island.
Does Badger Bus run on Sunday?
Yes. The Madison–Milwaukee schedule lists Sunday service with six departures in each direction. The Madison–Minnesota college connection also operates on Friday and Sunday under the published timetable.
Where is the Madison Badger Bus stop?
The primary UW–Madison stop is in the 200 block of North Lake Street between Johnson and Dayton, across from Witte Hall. The former East Washington/East Johnson and East Johnson/Pinckney courtesy stops were discontinued after September 1, 2026.
Can I pay cash to the Badger Bus driver?
On eligible trips, Badger Bus accepts exact cash one-way fares when seats remain after online passengers board. Exact-cash prices are higher than online prices and drivers do not provide change. Some stops require advance online booking.
Can I change or refund a Badger Bus ticket?
Online tickets are generally non-refundable. An eligible self-service change of departure date or time may be possible for a 10% fee, at least one hour before departure and subject to seat availability.
How much luggage can I bring on Badger Bus?
Each adult ticket generally includes one bag below the coach and one small carry-on. The stored bag is limited to 50 lb and 62 total linear inches. A second stored bag costs $5 under the published rules, while bicycles are subject to a $10 fee and available space.