How much is the train ticket from Chicago to Carbondale?

The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Carbondale start at $42. The average price for this train route is around $66. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the train ride from Chicago to Carbondale?

The average train trip from Chicago to Carbondale takes 5h 30m and covers 482 km. The quickest train gets you there in 5h 16m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the Chicago to Carbondale route?

Several major train operators serve this route, with 4 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to Carbondale?

The earliest train from Chicago to Carbondale departs at 8:15am. The latest train departs at 8:05pm.

Train Chicago to Carbondale from $39 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Chicago to Carbondale on December 3
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	9h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Cheapest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Fastest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Carbondale on December 4
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	CheapestFastest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	15h 10m	1:00am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Carbondale on December 5
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	9h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Cheapest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Fastest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Carbondale on December 6
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	9h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Cheapest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Fastest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Carbondale on December 7
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Cheapest
8:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	1:45pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Fastest
8:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	1:45pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Carbondale on December 8
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	9h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Cheapest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Fastest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Carbondale on December 9
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
8:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 34m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Cheapest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	Fastest
4:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	9:35pm	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags
8:05pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 44m	1:49am	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 10:20 PM CST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to Carbondale

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as a good way to reach Carbondale. The journey takes about 5 hours 30 minutes, and with fares starting at just $42, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

4train per day

5h 30mAverage Duration

482 kmDistance

44kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$45 - $503	Average Duration9h 5m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$42 - $273	Average Duration5h 30m	CO₂ emissions 44kg CO₂e

Train companies

Amtrak

4/55,621 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5621 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the WiFi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $42

Amtrak Chicago Carbondale recent customer reviews

Some kind of weird announcements were going off fairly regularly and loud. I think it was something that the train employee was getting and sounded like warnings of someone or something on the tracks ahead. very annoying. this was my first ride on Amtrak and it was kinda bumpy. Too bumpy to try and write something. After a while it got a touch cool. At first it was a bit noisy with people talking kinda loud. Could have used arm rests.

Charles F.

May 17, 2023

Enjoyed the trip

Fredric L.

October 1, 2024

US train and bus companies:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Chicago to Carbondale by train

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the train ticket from Chicago to Carbondale?
The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Carbondale start at $42. The average price for this train route is around $66. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the train ride from Chicago to Carbondale?
The average train trip from Chicago to Carbondale takes 5h 30m and covers 482 km. The quickest train gets you there in 5h 16m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the Chicago to Carbondale route?
Several major train operators serve this route, with 4 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to Carbondale?
The earliest train from Chicago to Carbondale departs at 8:15am. The latest train departs at 8:05pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

11-30

$152

12-01

$548

Today

$121

12-03

$92

12-04

$62

12-05

$74

12-06

$74

12-07

$75

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Carbondale was searched and found on Dec 4, 2025 with a price of $62

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Chicago to Carbondale, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $62 to $548 for a train ticket from Chicago to Carbondale based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $62 which is on 2025-12-04.

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to Carbondale?

The train is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel time9h 5m	Avg Price$95	Daily Departures2
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel time5h 30m	Avg Price$66	Daily Departures4

The best way to travel between Chicago and Carbondale is by train. By choosing the train, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $66 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $42. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to Carbondale, choose the train, as it will take you from Chicago to Carbondale in about 5h 30m —that's the fastest way to get there!