How much is the bus ticket from Carbondale to Chicago?

The cheapest bus tickets from Carbondale to Chicago start at R 729. The average price for this route is around R 1 083. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Carbondale to Chicago?

The average bus journey time from Carbondale to Chicago is 9h 30m, covering a distance of 481 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 5h 30m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which bus companies service the Carbondale to Chicago 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 Carbondale to Chicago?

The earliest bus departs from Carbondale to Chicago at 01:40. And the latest bus departs at 08:00.

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

A bus trip from Carbondale to Chicago produces an estimated 12 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.

What is the best bus company from Carbondale to Chicago?

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 5627 reviews.

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

Based on reviews on Busbud, 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 Carbondale to Chicago?

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 Carbondale to Chicago?

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 Carbondale to Chicago from R 830 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from Carbondale to Chicago on 15 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
06:30	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	7h 30m	14:00	Chicago (Union Station), IL	CheapestFastest
06:30	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	7h 30m	14:00	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
07:00	Amtrak Station	9h 30m	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
07:00	Amtrak Station	8h 55m	15:55	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	No tags

Next departures from Carbondale to Chicago on 16 December
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	06:30	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	7h 30m	14:00	Chicago (Union Station), IL	CheapestFastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	01:40	Amtrak Station	18h 30m	20:10	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	01:40	Amtrak Station	21h 20m	23:00	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	No tags

Next departures from Carbondale to Chicago on 18 December
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		07:00	Amtrak Station	8h 55m	15:55	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	CheapestFastest
		07:00	Amtrak Station	9h 30m	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags

Next departures from Carbondale to Chicago on 19 December
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		07:00	Amtrak Station	9h 30m	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	Cheapest
		07:00	Amtrak Station	8h 55m	15:55	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	Fastest

Next departures from Carbondale to Chicago on 20 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
07:00	Amtrak Station	9h 30m	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	Cheapest
06:30	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	7h 30m	14:00	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Fastest
07:00	Amtrak Station	8h 55m	15:55	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	No tags

Next departures from Carbondale to Chicago on 21 December
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
06:30	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	7h 30m	14:00	Chicago (Union Station), IL	CheapestFastest
06:30	Carbondale (Amtrak), IL	7h 30m	14:00	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
07:00	Amtrak Station	9h 30m	16:30	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
07:00	Amtrak Station	8h 55m	15:55	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 10:56 AM CST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Carbondale to Chicago

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as a good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 5 hours 57 minutes and with fares starting at just R 504, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5train per day

5h 57mAverage duration

482 kmDistance

44kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 729 - R 4 150	Average duration9h 30m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 504 - R 3 294	Average duration5h 57m	CO₂ emissions 44kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511 608 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Amtrak

4/55 645 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

The service received positive feedback for being a good ride with great service. However, some customers mentioned that there were issues with punctuality regarding the time of arrival.

Amtrak Carbondale Chicago recent customer reviews

It was a good ride and great service.

Donald D.

22 April 2024

Good job for helping me

Brenda D.

22 December 2023

It is good except do not respect the time of arrival.

Mussie Mindaye H.

20 July 2023

Greyhound

3.5/587 431 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

WiFi2.4

US Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Carbondale to Chicago by bus

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

How much is the bus ticket from Carbondale to Chicago?
The cheapest bus tickets from Carbondale to Chicago start at R 729. The average price for this route is around R 1 083. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Carbondale to Chicago?
The average bus journey time from Carbondale to Chicago is 9h 30m, covering a distance of 481 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 5h 30m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which bus companies service the Carbondale to Chicago 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 Carbondale to Chicago?
The earliest bus departs from Carbondale to Chicago at 01:40. And the latest bus departs at 08:00.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Carbondale to Chicago?
A bus trip from Carbondale to Chicago produces an estimated 12 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.
What is the best bus company from Carbondale to Chicago?
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 5627 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Carbondale to Chicago?
Based on reviews on Busbud, 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 Carbondale to Chicago?
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 Carbondale to Chicago?
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

12/12

R 1 676

13/12

R 2 005

Today

R 1 210

15/12

R 1 210

16/12

R 1 832

17/12

R 1 832

18/12

R 1 193

19/12

R 1 434

The cheapest trip from Carbondale to Chicago was searched and found on 18 Dec 2025 with a price of R 1 193

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

You can expect to pay from R 1 193 to R 2 057 for a bus ticket from Carbondale to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 1 193, which is on 2025-12-18.