Cheap bus tickets from Carbondale to St Louis
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Carbondale to St Louis?
There are usually 2 daily train trips available from Carbondale to St Louis.
Bus | Train | |
---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$28.79 | Avg. Price$112.41 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips3 | Daily Trips2 |
Duration | Duration2h 2m | Duration17h 28m |
Bus from Carbondale to St Louis: Journey Information
There are 4 intercity buses per day from Carbondale to St Louis. Traveling by bus from Carbondale to St Louis usually takes around 2 hours and 2 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in just one hour and 55 minutes.
Distance | 82 mi (132 km) |
Shortest duration | 1h 55m |
Cheapest price | $19.48 |
Trips per day | 4 |
Most frequent service | Greyhound |
Bus lines | 3 |

Buses from Carbondale to St Louis
- Amtrak Thruway: 1 daily buses from $45
- FlixBus US: 1 daily buses from $20
- Greyhound: 2 daily buses from $19
How much is a bus ticket from Carbondale to St Louis?
Bus tickets for a trip from Carbondale to St Louis cost $26.47 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average bus ticket prices from Carbondale to St Louis by travel date
Bus tickets from Carbondale to St Louis are expected to cost between $25 and $28 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to St Louis within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $25. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 21 days in advance to save $3.60 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from Carbondale to St Louis?
There are 3 bus lines from Carbondale to St Louis available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. Greyhound offers the most choice in regards to departure times, with a couple of different times on its daily bus schedule.
Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 2h 0m | $45.00 |
FlixBus US | 1 | 1h 59m | $23.60 |
Greyhound | 2 | 2h 3m | $23.52 |
Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Carbondale to St Louis start at $45. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 1 trips per day from Carbondale to St Louis, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 2 bus trips from Carbondale to St Louis every day, with the average journey taking around 2 hours and 3 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to St Louis usually start from $19.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Carbondale to St Louis
The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 2 minutes to cover the 82 miles from Carbondale to St Louis. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 55 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to St Louis at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 3:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00am. To see the times for all buses from Carbondale to St Louis, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 4 scheduled buses that travel from Carbondale to St Louis every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Carbondale to St Louis without transferring.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Carbondale to St Louis; ticket prices start at $70.00.
City Information
Carbondale
Carbondale, one the best vacation destinations in Illinois, is best known for its proximity to Shawnee National Forest and the Garden of the Gods: one of the most Instagrammed sites in the state. This quiet paradise is filled with lush trees bordering miles of hiking trails and scenic drives. The enormous sandstone bluffs in Giant City State Park attract rock climbers and rappellers looking for their next adventure. Boo Rochman Memorial Park offers a unique, family-friendly experience– a park filled with wooden sculptures of dragons, unicorns, wizards, and more. The park’s centerpiece, a massive wood and stone castle, features an elaborate jungle gym with stairs, tunnels, and an ogre or two.
Threaded by Main Street, downtown Carbondale is known for its Historic Town Square and charming, old-school architecture. The whole area is easily walkable, so you can peruse local shops for bike gear, art, vintage clothes, musical instruments, and everything in between. The SIU University Museum is a must-see, with no entry fee and a variety of exhibitions about the history and culture of the region. While in the area, explore Campus Lake and Pulliam Hall clocktower, or catch a football game at Saluki Stadium.
Bus services connect Seattle, Chicago, and Phoenix to Carbondale. Amtrak has multiple lines from the city to Memphis, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The nearest airport is Marion Williamson County Regional.
St Louis

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Unsplash
St. Louis is one of several major cities in the state of Missouri and it is uniquely located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The city is usually recognized by its most distinctive feature, the Gateway Arch, thanks to which it is the only city in the United States that has a national park in the heart of its downtown district. The Arch is a must-see attraction and you can even take a tram to the top for some incredible views of the St. Louis skyline.
Some of the other truly unique attractions you can visit while you’re in town include the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis where you can check out an incredible collection of dolls, dollhouses and vignettes, and the City Museum where you can ride down a 10-story spiral slide (yup, you read that right.) For a great outdoor experience, stop by the gorgeous Missouri Botanical Garden, and then take a stroll through Citygarden where you will find various quirky statues and installations worthy of being featured in your Instagram feed.
Ale enthusiasts would be excited to know that St. Louis is one of the best craft beer cities in the U.S. as well as one of the cheapest drinking cities. That means your party budget could take you a long way. Unsurprisingly, the city is also among the best spring break destinations on a budget.
The main bus and train station in St. Louis, Gateway Station, is located right in the center of downtown, not far from the Gateway Arch, which makes coming in and out of the city a breeze.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Carbondale?
Main departure station: 401 S Illinois Ave
Most buses depart from the main station in Carbondale.
All bus stations in Carbondale:
401 S Illinois Ave
Where does the bus arrive in St Louis?
Main arrival station: Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in St Louis.
All bus stations in St Louis:
Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St
Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St
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