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Search train tickets to Carbondale

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How to get to Carbondale by train

Routes18
Trips per day39
train lines4
Stations1

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About 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.

What train companies travel to Carbondale, Illinois?

Located in Illinois, Carbondale is accessible by train from 18 other cities. You can choose from 39 daily scheduled trips when you search for trains to Carbondale on Wanderu. Amtrak usually has the most trains on any given day.

Looking for other ways to get there? Bus tickets to Carbondale are also available.

Train companies serving Carbondale

TrainRoutesAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak18614h 20m$105.30
Amtrak City of New Orleans154h 22m$42.45
Amtrak Illini Service104h 32m$45.18
Amtrak Saluki104h 32m$43.25
  • Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey.

  • The City of New Orleans is an Amtrak route that runs daily trains from Chicago to New Orleans and vice versa. The City of New Orleans includes a sightseer lounge with panoramic windows for the best views of the five states along the route. However, the City of New Orleans also offers private roomettes and bedrooms for added comfort and luxury (and a higher price). Passengers who book sleeper accommodations will enjoy included meals, and all passengers can stop into the cafe car to purchase meals and snacks.

  • Since 1973, Amtrak's Illini Service has provided reliable train transportation to 11 Illinois cities. The Illini operates as an evening commuter train from Chicago to Carbondale, while its sister train, the Amtrak Saluki, runs the morning route. Commuters rely on this service as a safe and convenient transportation option every day. Each train offers WiFi and power outlets, plus a cafe car and business class seating. Illini trains meet the highest federal standard for reducing emissions, with up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Since its inception in 2006, the Amtrak Saluki line has offered daily train trips between Chicago and Carbondale. The Amtrak Saluki operates along 500 kilometers of railroad, stopping at numerous midwestern towns like Kankakee, Rantoul, and Effingham. The trains on this line are equipped with onboard WiFi, power outlets, air conditioning, and a cafe car, with the option to upgrade to business class seating. This line is known for using trains that produce 90% fewer carbon emissions than other trains, meaning that your trip is green as well as convenient.

Which train carrier has the best service to Carbondale?

Based on customers travel reviews, travelers who booked on Wanderu rave about traveling to Carbondale by train with Amtrak Saluki giving them a 4.6 rating out of 5.

Travelers also mentioned that Amtrak had the most comfortable train service to Carbondale taking into account the seats and amenities that Amtrak offers. They rate Amtrak a 5 out of 5 when it comes to just how relaxing and enjoyable their experience was onboard.

If you are looking to arrive to Carbondale punctually, travelers suggest that Amtrak has the best on time performance on their train schedules to Carbondale, rating them a 5 based on their on time arrivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

$3.00 is the cheapest price for a train ticket to Carbondale, according to recent searches on Wanderu. You can use our search to check if this price is currently available on trains from your city to Carbondale. In the last month, trains from Du Quoin to Carbondale had the lowest average price at $3.00.

The main train station in Carbondale is 401 S Illinois Ave. As the busiest station, it has the most train arrivals, although some trains may make other stops in and around Carbondale.

Carbondale ranks number 5 among most popular train destinations in the region. It also ranks number 150 in United States. Carbondale ranks number 13 in the region in terms of the number of destinations that connect to Carbondale via train service. On average 35 direct daily train trips serve Carbondale.
The population of Carbondale is 26399. Carbondale ranks number 13 in terms of population in Illinois and number 334 in all of United States.
Train tickets to Carbondale range from $3 for a short trip to Carbondale, while a 60 to 200 mile train trip to Carbondale starts at , and a longer trip by train to Carbondale can be as cheap as . Looking to travel across state or province lines? A trip from out of your region will be as low as $36.
People who take the train to Carbondale are most often visiting their families or loved ones. With frequent schedules, the ability to book and hop on a train last minute make taking a train to Carbondale easy whether you're planning a trip far in advance or need some quality time with loved ones at the last minute.
The closest train station to the city center of Carbondale is 401 S Illinois Ave, located just 0.2 miles away. Select 401 S Illinois Ave as your arrival if your plans call for exploring the downtown area of Carbondale. Search on Wanderu and in the search results you can filter travel options by arriving or departing station.

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With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.