By Rail
Via Columbus, Amtrak (http://www.amtrak.com) travels east to Milwaukee and Chicago and west to Minneapolis on the Empire Builder route. Columbus is a 30 minute drive north of Madison.
Amtrak also connects to Madison from Chicago via Thruway bus, operated by VanGalder.
I-39/I-90/I-94
runs along the eastern edge of Madison. Just over an hour to get to Milwaukee on I-94.Two hours and fifteen minutes to get to Chicago O'Hare Airport on I-90. Downtown Chicago is 30-45 minutes further, depending on traffic. Four hours on the combined I-90/I-94 will take you to Minneapolis/Saint Paul.
Dane County Regional Airport
IATA: MSN, (http://www.msnairport.com). Located northeast of downtown Madison, 15 minutes to the Capitol and the University by car or taxi. There are daily flights to nearby hubs including Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Denver. Nonstop service is also offered to cities like Cincinnati, Newark, New York City, and Washington DC.
By bus
From Chicago the VanGalder Bus (http://www.coachusa.com/v...) can take you from Downtown Union Station, O'Hare, or Midway Airports to Memorial Union (http://www.union.wisc.edu/) on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. Tickets are $27 for a one way trip and they can be bought from the bus drivers for exact change, or with credit cards, check or cash at the Memorial Union Travel Center. Fares as of 11/17/2010 are $29/$58 to Chicago O'Hare, and $31/$62 to Chicago Midway.
From Milwaukee the Badger Bus (http://www.badgerbus.com/); 877.292.8259; runs multiple trips per day between Madison and Milwaukee. Has multiple stops, including downtown, in both cities; makes stops at Mitchell Int'l. Airport in Milwaukee. Will also stop at Johnson Creek on demand tickets must be purchased in advance online.
Megabus
(http://us.megabus.com). Low-cost bus company that offers service to Madison from Chicago several times daily and Minneapolis 4 times daily. Fares can be as little as $1 each way if ordered far enough in advance. Megabus serves two stops in Madison, one at the Memorial Union on the University of Wisconsin campus, and another at the bus shelter at the Dutch Mill Park & Ride, located on the northeast side of the US Route 12/18 and US Route 51 intersection. The stop at the Memorial Union is more centrally located, and a much better stop to get off at if you'll be staying in central Madison without a car.Greyhound
(http://www.greyhound.com). Service from Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Chicago.