Search train tickets to Carbondale
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Quickview
How to get to Carbondale by train
- Routes
- 12
- Trips per day
- 32
- train lines
- 4
- Stations
- 1
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
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.
Station Information
Popular train stations in Carbondale:
- 401 S Illinois Ave
What train companies travel to Carbondale, IL?
Located in Illinois, Carbondale is accessible by train from 12 other cities. You can choose from 32 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
| Train | Routes | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 83 | 14 hr, 31 min | CZK 2,413.02 |
| Amtrak City of New Orleans | 11 | 4 hr, 53 min | CZK 1,197.42 |
| Amtrak Illini Service | 7 | 4 hr, 36 min | CZK 937.67 |
| Amtrak Saluki | 7 | 4 hr, 40 min | CZK 968.19 |
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 Illini Service, giving it a 4.8 rating out of 5.
Travelers also mentioned that Amtrak Illini Service had the most comfortable train service to Carbondale, taking into account the seats and amenities it offers. They rate Amtrak Illini Service at 4.8 out of 5 when it comes to how relaxing and enjoyable their experience was onboard.
If you are looking to arrive in Carbondale punctually, travelers suggest that Amtrak Saluki has the best on-time performance on its train schedules to Carbondale, rating it 4.9 out of 5 for on-time arrivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
CZK 64.94 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, the lowest average price on a route to Carbondale was CZK 75.76.
Cheapest Price
CZK 64.94
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.
The closest airport to Carbondale is Carbondale/Southern Illinois Airport (MDH), located 4 miles from the city center of Carbondale.
Carbondale ranks number 4 among the most popular train destinations in Illinois. Carbondale ranks number 116 among train destinations in the country. Carbondale ranks number 16 in Illinois by the number of places connected to it by train. There are 25 direct train schedules arriving in Carbondale each day.
The population of Carbondale is 26,399. It ranks number 12 by population in Illinois. It ranks number 270 by population in the country.
A short train trip to Carbondale, under 60 miles, can cost as little as CZK 64.94. A 60 to 200 mile train trip to Carbondale starts at CZK 194.81. A longer trip by train to Carbondale can be as cheap as CZK 541.13. Looking to travel across state or province lines? A trip from out of your region will be as low as CZK 454.55.
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.
| Departure | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 9 hr, 43 min | CZK 1,603.05 |
| Springfield | 11 hr, 49 min | CZK 3,221.04 |
| Homewood | 7 hr, 56 min | CZK 1,128.37 |
| Joliet | 12 hr, 2 min | CZK 1,864.53 |
| Normal | 10 hr, 52 min | CZK 2,029.46 |
Top train routes to and from Carbondale
Popular train routes in Europe

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
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.




