Illini & Saluki
Chicago, IL → Carbondale, IL · 309 miles · 5h 30m
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309 miles
5h 30m
2x daily each way
79 mph
1
About the Illini & Saluki
Downstate Illinois' lifeline, serving the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
What makes this route worth taking
- Two daily round trips
- Serves both major downstate universities
- Reliable, inexpensive coach fares
- Connections to the City of New Orleans
Travel tip
University move-in and finals weeks are the peaks — reserve early.
Classes of service on this route
The Illini & Saluki operates with Venture cars. Available accommodation:
This is a daytime service without sleeping accommodation. Business Class, where offered, adds seat pitch, a quieter car and usually a complimentary beverage. The size of the upgrade varies by route and departure.
States and provinces served
Stations along the route
| # | Station |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago |
| 2 | Homewood |
| 3 | Kankakee |
| 4 | Gilman |
| 5 | Rantoul |
| 6 | Champaign-Urbana |
| 7 | Mattoon |
| 8 | Effingham |
| 9 | Centralia |
| 10 | Du Quoin |
| 11 | Carbondale |
Station lists reflect the principal calling pattern. Individual departures may omit stops or add seasonal calls. Schedules, equipment and station stops are set by the carrier and change without notice — confirm current details directly with the carrier before you travel.
Planning a journey on the Illini & Saluki
Fares on Amtrak routes move in tiers that generally only step upward, so booking once your dates are firm is usually cheaper than waiting. Sleeping-car accommodation is capped per car and tends to sell out well ahead of coach on this kind of route.
Want to talk it through before you book? Call +1 (888) 821-4679 and we will walk you through the route, the accommodation and the accessibility arrangements. Free, and no obligation.
