Premier travel-recommendation company Flipkey.com recently identified Carbondale as Illinois’ most economical vacation-rental destination, with Shawnee National Forest and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge — along with thousands of waterways — adding to the region’s allure.
Based on research on the average price for a two-bedroom vacation home for all U.S. sites, Carbondale was calculated to cost a relatively inexpensive $1,280 per week by the TripAdvisor-affiliated company.
With more than 280,000 acres to explore, Shawnee National Forest offers a choice of rentals (including log cabins and even a treehouse offered by Timber Ridge Outpost), along with well-known landmarks such as the Garden of the Gods, Cave in Rock, the Iron Furnace and One Horse Gap Lake. Fishing, hunting and other activities are also accessible in this bucolic setting.
| Contributed photo
“I make vacation-purchasing decisions based on affordability and locale,” Matthew Moretti, FlipKey’s senior content and media analyst, said. “I’d venture a guess that most travelers are like me, trying to find a happy medium between an incredible place to visit without breaking the bank.”
In that spirit, Moretti recommended Carbondale and its surrounding natural attractions as a destination sure to please vacationers in the Prairie State.
“We make it easy, safe, and fun to find and book the perfect place to stay,” the company said on its website. Named the “Top Vacation Rental Site” by Travel + Leisure, Flipkey.com provides vetted vacation opportunities.
FlipKey’s vacation-rental website features 300,000 listings, plus guest reviews, for properties in more than 11,000 cities worldwide. Travelers can search listings, connect with property managers and owners, and review details to plan vacations. Flipkey Inc. is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Alerts Sign-up