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Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, Illinois, United States, within the Southern Illinois region informally known as "Little Egypt". As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 25,083, making it the most populous city in Southern Illinois outside the Metro East region of Greater St. Louis .
- Downtown Carbondale. Threaded by Main Street, Carbondale has an expansive central commercial district for a town of this size. Downtown Carbondale is perfectly walkable, and has lots of interesting things to see, from the Old Train Depot at the very center, to some 25 historic buildings dotted around the Historic Town Square.
- The University Museum. Coming up for its 150th anniversary, the sensational museum at the SIU campus is free and open to all. The collection was begun in the 1870s and now comprises 70,000 objects, spanning the arts, humanities and the sciences.
- Carbondale Farmers’ Market. A community of multigenerational farmers, artisans and producers converge at this well-attended farmers’ market where pretty much everything comes from Southern Illinois.
- SIU Campus. Southern Illinois University will pique your interest with its museums, cultural venues and sports teams, but also warrants a walking tour thanks to its abundance of grand architecture.
Things to Do in Carbondale, Illinois: See Tripadvisor's 6,216 traveler reviews and photos of Carbondale tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in July. We have reviews of the best places to see in Carbondale.
- Tour Campus. There’s little question that Southern Illinois University is the beating heart of Carbondale. Founded in 1869 as a teachers’ college, today, this top-ranked research institution is home to more than 11,000 students.
- Drive By The Dome. Architecture buffs cannot and should not miss a visit to the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home. Fuller was a research professor at Southern Illinois University’s School of Art from 1959 to 1968.
- Stroll Historic Town Square. Nothing exudes small-town charm more than a traditional square, and Carbondale’s is a gem. Back in the 1850s, as its founders plotted out the town, they made sure 10 acres were left open right in Carbondale’s center.
- Get Outside. The Carbondale area is blessed with a number of terrific places where you can get out and truly enjoy Mother Nature. For starters, the nearby Shawnee National Forest with its incredible Garden of the Gods — one of the most photographed sites in Illinois — is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
Things To Do. Permits & Applications. NEWS & SPOTLIGHTS. Keep up to date with Carbondale. 4th of July Fireworks Display. The City of Carbondale and Southern Illinois University Carbondale are excited to announce the return of the annual fireworks display on SIU campus! Read more... CommuniTEA Social Hour.
Carbondale is a small city of about 25,000 (2020) in Southern (Illinois) about 14 miles (22 km) east of the Mississippi River at roughly the southern edge of the plains, and the northern limit of the Shawnee hills.
Welcome to Carbondale, Illinois! A city of more than 21,717 residents, Carbondale is home to a thriving business community enormously boosted by Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, recognized nationally for outstanding education, research, and athletics.
