Is there a way to reach Carbondale from Chicago without flying?

You can take a bus or a train to go from Chicago to Carbondale. Either way you choose, you'll be sure to reach your destination in the most practical and eco-friendly way. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

How long is the bus trip from Chicago to Carbondale?

On average, the trip from Chicago to Carbondale takes around 12h, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 8h 45m with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 297 miles (479 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Chicago and Carbondale?

The distance separating Chicago and Carbondale is 297 miles (479 km).

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to Carbondale?

You can expect to pay around $69 for a bus ticket. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $47 and $184, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

Chicago to Carbondale Bus Tickets

FriApr 25

SatApr 26

SunApr 27

MonApr 28

from $57

TueApr 29

WedApr 30

ThuMay 1

FriMay 2

Cheap buses leaving Monday

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest + Fastest
Departure time: April 28 at 4:45pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: April 29 at 3:15am
Destination city: Carbondale
Destination location: Amtrak Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 10h 30m
Departure time: April 28 at 10:00am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: 537-517 W. Jackson Blvd
Arrival time: April 29 at 3:15am
Destination city: Carbondale
Destination location: Amtrak Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 17h 15m
Departure time: April 28 at 2:10pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan
Arrival time: April 29 at 3:15am
Destination city: Carbondale
Destination location: Amtrak Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 13h 5m

Accepted payments

Bus Chicago to Carbondale: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$69

Average bus trip duration12h

Number of daily buses6

Earliest bus departure6:10am

Distance299 miles (481 km)

Latest bus departure11:50pm

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/586,942 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

FlixBus

3.5/58,379 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Amtrak

4/55,072 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Based on 5072 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the wifi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $107.00

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 bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Los Limousines, Tornado Bus, Valley Transit, New York Trailways, Wanda Coach

Chicago to Carbondale Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Chicago to Carbondale. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make sure you can find a bus service from Chicago to Carbondale from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

Discover how much the bus trip from Chicago to Carbondale will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - Carbondale

Is there a way to reach Carbondale from Chicago without flying?
How long is the bus trip from Chicago to Carbondale?
What is the distance between Chicago and Carbondale?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to Carbondale?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

04/21

$83

04/22

$71

Today

$73

04/24

No data

04/25

$51

04/26

$47

04/27

No data

04/28

$57

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Carbondale was searched and found on Apr 26, 2025 with a price of $47

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

You can expect to pay from $47 to $106 for a bus ticket from Chicago to Carbondale based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $47 which is on 2025-04-26.

Usually FlixBus Inc. will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Chicago and Carbondale!

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from Chicago to Carbondale, get comfy and count the stars.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Chicago to Carbondale will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Chicago to Carbondale.

Did you know?

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

Did you know that 80% of the buses in North America are equipped with WiFi and power outlets ? And 60% of bus travelers have used their electronic device on board during 2014.

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

Bus from Chicago to Carbondale

You can also go to Carbondale by train

Train from Chicago to Carbondale

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Chicago, IL to Carbondale, IL