How much is the bus ticket from Chicago to Carbondale?

The cheapest coach tickets from Chicago to Carbondale start from £25. The average price for this route is around £49. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Chicago to Carbondale?

The average bus journey time from Chicago to Carbondale is 9h 5m, covering a distance of 289 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 5h 30m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which bus companies service the Chicago to Carbondale route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus , Amtrak , Greyhound .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Chicago to Carbondale?

The earliest bus departs from Chicago to Carbondale at 08:15. And the latest bus departs at 23:50.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Chicago to Carbondale?

A bus journey from Chicago to Carbondale produces an estimated 12 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

Which is the best bus company from Chicago to Carbondale?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.

Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Chicago to Carbondale?

Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Chicago to Carbondale?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Chicago to Carbondale?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus Chicago to Carbondale from £23 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures from Chicago to Carbondale on 27 November
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	17:10	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	8h 25m	01:35	Amtrak Station	CheapestFastest

Next departures from Chicago to Carbondale on 28 November
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	17:10	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	8h 25m	01:35	Amtrak Station	CheapestFastest
	Bus	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	9h 5m	01:35	Amtrak Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Carbondale on 29 November
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	17:10	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	8h 25m	01:35	Amtrak Station	CheapestFastest
	Bus	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	9h 5m	01:35	Amtrak Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Carbondale on 30 November
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	17:10	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	8h 25m	01:35	Amtrak Station	CheapestFastest
	Bus	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	9h 5m	01:35	Amtrak Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Carbondale on 1 December
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	9h 5m	01:35	Amtrak Station	Cheapest
	Bus	17:10	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	8h 25m	01:35	Amtrak Station	Fastest

Next departures from Chicago to Carbondale on 3 December
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	Bus	08:15	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	13:45	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	CheapestFastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	14:45	Downtown Greyhound Station	16h 10m	06:55	Amtrak Station	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	10:00	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	20h 55m	06:55	Amtrak Station	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	14:10	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	16h 45m	06:55	Amtrak Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Carbondale on 4 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	08:15	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 30m	13:45	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	CheapestFastest
Bus	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	9h 5m	01:35	Amtrak Station	No tags
Bus	17:10	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	8h 25m	01:35	Amtrak Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 17:17 CST.

Compare 2 ways to travel 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 £23, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

4train per day

5h 30mAverage duration

299 milesDistance

44kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average price£25 - £131	Average duration9h 5m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£23 - £148	Average duration5h 30m	CO₂ emissions 44kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,455 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Amtrak

4/55,608 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

Based on 5608 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 Wi-Fi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at £25

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.

17 May 2023

Enjoyed the trip

Fredric L.

1 October 2024

Greyhound

3.5/587,402 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

WiFi2.4

US Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Chicago to Carbondale

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

How much is the bus ticket from Chicago to Carbondale?
The cheapest coach tickets from Chicago to Carbondale start from £25. The average price for this route is around £49. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Chicago to Carbondale?
The average bus journey time from Chicago to Carbondale is 9h 5m, covering a distance of 289 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 5h 30m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which bus companies service the Chicago to Carbondale route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus, Amtrak, Greyhound.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Chicago to Carbondale?
The earliest bus departs from Chicago to Carbondale at 08:15. And the latest bus departs at 23:50.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Chicago to Carbondale?
A bus journey from Chicago to Carbondale produces an estimated 12 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
Which is the best bus company from Chicago to Carbondale?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.
Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Chicago to Carbondale?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Chicago to Carbondale?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Chicago to Carbondale?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

25/11

£87

26/11

£96

Today

£76

28/11

£69

29/11

£130

30/11

£130

01/12

£62

02/12

£38

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Carbondale was searched and found on 2 Dec 2025 with a price of £38

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 £38 to £134 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 £38, which is on 2025-12-02.