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.
Trip Summary
There are usually 2 daily train trips available from Madison to Carbondale. Traveling by train from Madison to Carbondale usually takes 11 hours, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 10 hours and 31 minutes.
Distance | 369 mi (595 km) |
Fastest train | 10h 31m |
Lowest price | TRY 2,779.12 |
Most frequent service | Amtrak |
Train lines | 1 |
Price trends for trains from Madison to Carbondale
Monthly avg. prices
Which train should you take from Madison to Carbondale?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Madison to Carbondale. The schedule is relatively limited as the train only runs twice a day.
Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Amtrak | 2 | 11h 1m | TRY 3,056.39 |
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. On average, there are 2 Amtrak trains from Madison to Carbondale every day, as well as 6 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from TRY 2,779.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Madison and Carbondale is approximately 369 miles, or 595 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 11 hours, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 10 hours and 31 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains departing from Madison to Carbondale tend to have the most passengers on Saturday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Saturday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Thursday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Madison at 2:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 2:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
Trains leave the station in Madison twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. However, there are no direct trains. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. You will need to remember to bring your carry-on luggage with you when you change trains. Depending on the carrier's policy, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Carbondale to Madison.
City Information
Madison
Consistently ranking high on the lists of the best places to live in the USA, Madison still maintains its quaint and idyllic small-town vibe despite being the capital city of Wisconsin. Sitting among the city’s most iconic and most popular landmarks is the Madison Memorial Union, which is located within the campus of the University of Madison. The building features a lakeview terrace filled with colorful chairs, allowing visitors to chill out and enjoy the sun. If you are interested in the history of the state or architecture as a whole, head over to the State Capitol building, which was built between 1906 and 1917. The building features lavish council chambers, which were modeled after the famous Doge’s Palace in Venice, along with other architectural highlights. If you wish to stay close to nature, the Olbrich Botanical garden, with its famous Thai Pavilion and Garden, will certainly be a great choice.
As a college city, Madison features numerous cutting-edge establishments that will make your mouth water. For some of the best dining views in town, head over to Graze, where you can also grab some of the best cheese curds in Madison. If you want to enjoy the best brunch in town, Sardine might have what you need.
The busiest bus/train station in Madison is located on Collins Ct. The city is served by the Dane County Regional Airport, 6 miles northeast of downtown.
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
Where is the train station in Madison?
Image credit: Corey Coyle
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Dutch Mill Park & Ride Lot
The Dutch Mill Park & Ride is a parking lot where travelers can catch local Madison Metro buses throughout the city, as well as intercity buses on Amtrak Thruway heading to destinations like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee. For those parking before riding, the lot has both daily and overnight parking available for free. Although there is no station building, bus shelters line the bus lanes, and there is easy access to the next-door gas station and Arby’s, where you can grab a bite or hang out indoors before the bus arrives. The Dutch Mill Park & Ride is a few miles outside of downtown Madison, but several convenience stores, restaurants, and hotels are still in the direct vicinity.
All train stations in Madison:
Dutch Mill Park & Ride Lot
University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Where is the train station in Carbondale?
Main arrival station: 401 S Illinois Ave
Carbondale has one train station.
All train stations in Carbondale:
401 S Illinois Ave
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Carbondale to Madison?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Madison
- Train from Madison to Miami
TRY 16,238+
- Madison to Orlando Train
TRY 13,455+
- Madison to Chicago Train
TRY 1,307+
- Madison to Joliet Train
TRY 1,682+
- Train from Madison to Naperville
TRY 1,519+
- Train from Madison to Springfield
TRY 2,304+
- Madison to Boston Train
TRY 6,640+
- Train from Madison to Battle Creek
TRY 2,972+
- Madison to Winona Train
TRY 3,080+
- Madison to St Louis Train
TRY 2,585+
- Train from Madison to New York
TRY 7,253+
- Madison to Syracuse Train
TRY 4,498+
- Madison to Toledo Train
TRY 3,137+
- Train from Madison to Austin
TRY 7,069+
- Madison to Houston Train
TRY 9,654+
- Madison to San Antonio Train
TRY 5,849+
- Madison to La Crosse Train
TRY 3,301+
- Madison to Oshkosh Train
TRY 2,434+
Continue by train from Carbondale
- Train from Carbondale to San Diego
TRY 14,384+
- Carbondale to Orlando Train
TRY 21,363+
- Train from Carbondale to Atlanta
TRY 10,559+
- Carbondale to Centralia
TRY 129+
- Carbondale to Champaign Train
TRY 420+
- Carbondale to Chicago Train
TRY 1,084+
- Train from Carbondale to Macomb
TRY 3,382+
- Carbondale to Quincy Train
TRY 3,543+
- Carbondale to Rockford Train
TRY 3,322+
- Carbondale to Springfield Train
TRY 2,367+
- Carbondale to New Orleans
TRY 3,582+
- Carbondale to Jefferson City Train
TRY 2,132+
- Carbondale to Kansas City Train
TRY 3,716+
- Carbondale to St Louis Train
TRY 3,269+
- Train from Carbondale to Memphis
TRY 1,215+
- Carbondale to Dallas Train
TRY 6,320+
- Train from Carbondale to Milwaukee
TRY 2,340+
Check out these popular routes
- Ottawa to Toronto Train
TRY 2,380+
- Los Angeles to Seattle Train
TRY 4,509+
- New Haven to New York Train
TRY 1,125+
- Washington D.C. to Boston
TRY 5,691+
- Washington D.C. to Richmond Train
TRY 1,068+
- Chicago to Milwaukee Train
TRY 709+
- Train from Baltimore to Washington D.C.
TRY 308+
- Portland to Seattle
TRY 14,928+
- New York to Toronto Train
TRY 4,596+
- New York to New Haven Train
TRY 1,404+
- New York to Rensselaer Train
TRY 1,581+
- Train from Providence to Boston
TRY 503+
- Seattle to Portland Train
TRY 1,174+
- Train from Seattle to Vancouver
TRY 1,146+
- Train from Vancouver to Seattle
TRY 1,092+
- Train from Milwaukee to Chicago
TRY 715+
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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more
- Train Tickets
- United States
- Illinois
- Carbondale
- Madison to Carbondale