Carbondale, IL Summary

Surrounded by a number of lakes and rivers, Carbondale (population 20,681) sits at the far southern end of the state, about 40 miles north of the border with Kentucky. Here locals speak with a noticeable Southern drawl, unlike the citizens who reside in the northern and central portions of the state.

The driving force of this city is Southern Illinois University (24,000 students.) Visitors, however, are drawn here by the nearby Shawnee National Forest. Comprising 266,000 acres, the forest is bordered on the east by the Ohio River and on the west by the Mississippi River. Unusual rock formations are one of the major attractions here and the forest offers a number of outdoor activities from swimming and boating to hiking and fishing.

Buses serve Carbondale as do trains, with daily trains to and from Chicago and as a stop on the famous “City of New Orleans” run. I-57 and US-51 both run right through town.