Traveling to Madrid from Barcelona Airport via Renfe

One big suitcase? The more you struggle with bags the more of a target you become to pickpockets. How easy is it to haul your luggage down steps? Escalators don’t always work.
I waited a long time for a train at Barcelona’s airport station so expect this journey to take a while. You should also buy your train ticket from Barcelona Sants station to Madrid two months out to guarantee a reservation; you’ll also get a better rate.

Thanks for tip on suitcase. We will be there for 15 days or so and hence one large suitcase.

We're doing this exact thing but backwards. We land in Madrid at 6 am and have the high speed train at 11:30, figuring two hours for customs/immigration and two hours to find the local train, and travel, to the train station. We chose this option over a taxi because we will be traveling during rush hour so the train will most likely be faster. The high speed train station is in the center of Madrid and there is a local train that goes there. Our high speed ticket includes a local ticket, check to make sure when you purchase. We padded our time for the inevitable bathroom and food breaks, plus the 'we went the wrong way. what are we doing. Lordy!' conversations I'm sure we'll have!

Edit: Skip the one big suitcase. It's much easier to move around if each person has their own little suitcase, plus less risk of airline loss (carryon vs. checked). Rethink your packing and only travel with carryon. For two weeks, one small bag each is enough. Some of the high speed trains we've traveled on have luggage racks above the seats which a large suitcase won't fit on-those will have to go to the back of the train. In the event the airline makes us check one of our bags, we each pack an outfit in the other's suitcase plus an extra t-shirt and undies in our personal bags (with meds). This has never happened, but lugging a large suitcase across cobblestones is a no-go. Most of our trips include planes, trains, autos, ferries, etc, so ease of movement is a must!

For 15 days, I think you can do very well with just your carry-on and if you need extra space maybe two more carry-ons each view. Think that a big suitcase means a heavy weight to go up and down trains up and down escalators. For the last few trips, we have done to Europe I have traveled with one carry-on and my wife with two carry-ons and that makes it very easy to move around. You might wanna rethink what you are taking on your trip that requires one big suitcase.

I think that taking into account the possibility of traffic, the train is the way to go, although
it may imply a bit more walking with your bags to get to the airport train station. It will
also be a lot cheaper. I don't see the airport train and Madrid train being connectable
ticket-wise, so you would end up purchasing 2 tickets, and would be wise to be aware
of the policies if you miss the second train.

If you can handle getting into Madrid a bit later, I'd go for 5pm or later. Baggage and
immigration are probably good for 1.5 hours, getting to the train station 15-30 mins,
waiting for the next train and getting to Sants an hour - you're right on the edge of
a ~4pm train. Leaves time for coffee or ice cream as a pick-me-up.

Sants is one big station - I assume you will have to go between local and long-distance
parts of the station, but there is at worse a trivial stop to run your bags through the x-ray
machine.

In Madrid, your long-distance ticket includes travel on the local commuter line to a train
station other than Atocha. I do not believe the same thing exists in Barcelona.

Since I assume you are not traveling onwards from Madrid that first night, do you have
the option of staying in Barcelona the first night and taking an early train from Sants
the next morning? You will be jetlagged and possibly more prone to making a mistake
that first day of arrival.

Have you considered just flying from Barcelona to Madrid?

Normally, I am pro-train especially for big-city-to-big-city travel like this. But in this case, when you are already at the airport I think flying is the easier choice, especially Iberia runs flights almost hourly from BCN to MAD. Looking at a random weekday in June, I see BCN-MAD flights at 14:30, 15:20, 16:55, 18:05, 18:55, 19:55, 20:35 and 21:05.

Of course it will be on a separate ticket from your USA to BCN flight, but so would a train.

To note -- if you end up staying the night in Barcelona, then I'd definitely take the train. But if you're just going to move straight from landing in BCN to moving to MAD, I would seriously consider flying instead, which I think will save you time in this case.

"Packing Smart and Traveling Light"
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light/packing-smart

Thank you all for great tips and suggestions. It is super helpful.
We are two of us. Will try to fit in in two carry ons and two back packs. If not one one midsize bag and one carryon.
Tried looking to go to Madrid via air, but it was turning out to be expensive.
I am planning to stay at Madrid for 3 nights. For now the plan is to take a taxi from Barcelona airport to Barcelona Sants Train station. Will take a train 3-4 hours after flight arrival time to give us ample time to get to Sants.

Hi! I wanted to ask if you have travelled already. I am looking into taking the train from Barcelona to Madrid as soon as we land, too. Am wondering what was your buffering time and was it enough time to get you from BCN to train station. Thank you.

hi, yes, I did. I landed at approximately 2 pm and I had booked Renfe at around 5:50pm to navigate unknown unknowns. We took a taxi from airport to Sants station to keep it simple. Immigration and customs was pretty quick. Could have easily reached Sants for an earlier train. Since we had time it allowed us take a break at the aiport, didn't have to worry about long line at taxi stand and navigate through Sants station. 2.5 to 3 hours should be sufficient if you don't take any breaks and still have some time to spare at Sants.

Thank you for your response!