Carbondale, Illinois

Private charter · COU → MDH

Columbia to Carbondale

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

Photo: Bradley Furlow · CC BY-SA 4.0

Price your flight from Columbia to Carbondale

Trip type
1

Times are local to each departure airport.

The trip

Columbia to Carbondale, door to door faster.

Trade about 4 hours on the road for about 1 hr in the air. Littlebird flies you direct from Columbia Regional Airport in Columbia to Southern Illinois Airport in Carbondale, 176 miles in a Cirrus SR20. You get the whole airplane for one price, with every fee and tax shown before you book.

Distance
176 mi
Flight
1 hr
Driving
4 hours
Passengers
Up to 5
COUColumbiaMDHCarbondale
COU → MDH176 miles direct

Flight time by aircraft

  • Cirrus SR20 · up to 3 passengers1 hr
  • Cirrus Vision Jet · up to 5 passengers35 min

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

Departing Columbia

Airports in Columbia

  • COU

    Commercial airport

    Columbia Regional Airport

    Columbia · KCOU

    From downtown
    11 mi
    Longest runway
    7,401 ft

  • KFTT

    Regional airport

    Elton Hensley Memorial Airport

    Fulton

    From downtown
    19 mi
    Longest runway
    4,001 ft

  • KVER

    Regional airport

    Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport

    Boonville

    From downtown
    19 mi
    Longest runway
    4,000 ft

  • JEF

    Regional airport

    Jefferson City Memorial Airport

    Jefferson City · KJEF

    From downtown
    26 mi
    Longest runway
    6,000 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

Columbia to Carbondale flights

How long is a private flight from Columbia to Carbondale?

About 1 hr in a Cirrus SR20, for 176 miles direct. Driving the same trip takes about 4 hours.

Which airports do flights from Columbia to Carbondale use?

You can depart from Columbia Regional Airport (COU), Elton Hensley Memorial Airport (KFTT), or Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport (KVER) 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 Columbia 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 Columbia and Carbondale?

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

Return flight

Carbondale to Columbia

More flights from Columbia

More flights to Carbondale

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

Columbia 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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