Carbondale, Illinois

Private charter · MDW → MDH

Chicago to Carbondale

288 miles, about 1 hr 40 min in a Cirrus SR20. One price for the whole airplane.

Photo: Bradley Furlow · CC BY-SA 4.0

Price your flight from Chicago to Carbondale

Trip type
1

Times are local to each departure airport.

The trip

Chicago to Carbondale, door to door faster.

Trade about 6½ hours on the road for about 1 hr 40 min in the air. Littlebird flies you direct from Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago to Southern Illinois Airport in Carbondale, 288 miles in a Cirrus SR20. You get the whole airplane for one price, with every fee and tax shown before you book.

Distance
288 mi
Flight
1 hr 40 min
Driving
6½ hours
Passengers
Up to 5
MDWChicagoMDHCarbondale
MDW → MDH288 miles direct

Flight time by aircraft

  • Cirrus SR20 · up to 3 passengers1 hr 40 min
  • Cirrus Vision Jet · up to 5 passengers55 min

Planned times in the air. Your quote shows exact departure and arrival times.

Departing Chicago

Airports in Chicago

  • MDW

    Major airport

    Chicago Midway International Airport

    Chicago · KMDW

    From downtown
    9 mi
    Longest runway
    6,522 ft

  • ORD

    Major airport

    Chicago O'Hare International Airport

    Chicago · KORD

    From downtown
    16 mi
    Longest runway
    13,000 ft

  • PWK

    Commercial airport

    Chicago Executive Airport

    Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling · KPWK

    From downtown
    21 mi
    Longest runway
    5,001 ft

  • GYY

    Commercial airport

    Gary/Chicago International Airport

    Gary · KGYY

    From downtown
    21 mi
    Longest runway
    8,859 ft

  • KIGQ

    Regional airport

    Lansing Municipal Airport

    Chicago

    From downtown
    25 mi
    Longest runway
    4,002 ft

  • K05C

    Regional airport

    Griffith-Merrillville Airport

    Griffith

    From downtown
    28 mi
    Longest runway
    4,900 ft

Arriving Carbondale

Airports in Carbondale

  • MDH

    Commercial airport

    Southern Illinois Airport

    Murphysboro · KMDH

    From downtown
    4 mi
    Longest runway
    6,506 ft

  • MWA

    Commercial airport

    Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois

    Marion · KMWA

    From downtown
    12 mi
    Longest runway
    8,012 ft

  • KPJY

    Regional airport

    Pinckneyville Du Quoin Airport

    Pinckneyville

    From downtown
    19 mi
    Longest runway
    3,999 ft

  • KH96

    Regional airport

    Benton Municipal Airport

    Benton

    From downtown
    26 mi
    Longest runway
    4,002 ft

When you land

Things to do in Carbondale

Carbondale is the largest town in the southern tip of Illinois, an area of wooded hills, orchards and sandstone bluffs that feels far removed from the flat cornfields to the north. Southern Illinois University anchors the local economy, along with the region’s hospitals and medical school programs, government offices and the tourism businesses that serve the Shawnee National Forest. The town became briefly famous as the crossroads of the 2017 and 2024 total solar eclipses, and it remains a gateway to some of the Midwest’s most underrated outdoor country.

  1. 01

    Garden of the Gods Recreation Area

    In the Shawnee National Forest, a short stone-paved trail leads among sandstone formations shaped by wind and water, with sweeping views over the forested hills.

  2. 02

    Giant City State Park

    Just south of town, massive sandstone bluffs form “streets” of rock, with hiking trails, horseback riding and a historic stone lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

  3. 03

    Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

    This wine trail links a group of family-owned wineries along the rolling roads between Carbondale and Alto Pass, many with patios overlooking vineyards and woodlands.

  4. 04

    Little Grand Canyon

    A rugged loop trail descends through a deep box canyon in the Shawnee National Forest and climbs to an overlook above the Big Muddy River floodplain.

  5. 05

    Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

    East of Carbondale, this refuge protects lakes, wetlands and woods where visitors fish, boat and watch migrating waterfowl and resident bald eagles.

  6. 06

    Southern Illinois University

    SIU’s wooded campus includes Thompson Woods, Campus Lake and the University Museum, and Saluki football and basketball games draw crowds through fall and winter.

Explore Carbondale charter

Questions

Chicago to Carbondale flights

How long is a private flight from Chicago to Carbondale?

About 1 hr 40 min in a Cirrus SR20, for 288 miles direct. Driving the same trip takes about 6½ hours.

Which airports do flights from Chicago to Carbondale use?

You can depart from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), or Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) and arrive at Southern Illinois Airport (MDH), Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA), or Pinckneyville Du Quoin Airport (KPJY). Pick whichever is closest to where you're starting and where you're headed.

How much does a private charter from Chicago to Carbondale cost?

The price depends on the date, departure time, aircraft and where the airplane is positioned. Enter your trip above to see an instant price for the whole airplane, with every tax and fee included.

Can I book a round trip between Chicago and Carbondale?

Yes. Choose round trip when you search, and pick your return date and time. Flights from Carbondale back to Chicago are priced the same way.

Return flight

Carbondale to Chicago

More flights from Chicago

More flights to Carbondale

Explore Chicago private charter and Carbondale private charter, airports and things to do. Arriving at Southern Illinois Airport (MDH).

Chicago to Carbondale, on your schedule

Choose your departure time and see an instant price for the whole airplane. Bring up to 5 passengers for the same price.

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