Anna, IL to Champaign, IL is 214 miles and takes about 3 hours 57 minutes via Ken Gray Expressway and I-57, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest and offering a straightforward drive primarily on major highways. You'll find it to be a practical option for a quick trip between these two Illinois cities, with most of the distance covered on the interstate. It’s a reliable choice if you’re looking for efficiency and don’t need to make many detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
107.2 miles from Anna, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ken Gray Expressway
133 mi
2h 23m
I 57
71.4 mi
1h 16m
East Vienna Street
5.8 mi
8m
West University Avenue
1.9 mi
4m
I 72
1 mi
1m
770N
0.3 mi
<1m
West Park Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Randolph Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 133 mi, about 2h 23m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,044 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,305
Quietest
3 AM
~171 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anna, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on IL 146
34 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
2
Turn right onto IL 146
5.8 mi·8 min·East Vienna Street
3
Continue on IL 146
0.3 mi·27 sec·770N
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
5
Merge onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·Ken Gray Expressway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
71 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 235AToward I-72 East: University Avenue
9
Merge onto I 72
1.0 mi·1 min·I 72
10
Continue on West University Avenue
1.9 mi·4 min·West University Avenue
11
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
364 ft·12 sec·North Randolph Street
12
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
458 ft·15 sec·West Park Avenue
13
Turn right onto North Neil Street
320 ft·10 sec·North Neil Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Neil Street
Trip Plan
Given the under-4-hour drive time, starting your trip anytime in the morning should allow you to reach Champaign with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 133-mile stretch on Ken Gray Expressway, as services might be less frequent. Your estimated fuel cost is around $31, so plan accordingly. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you can depart when it's most convenient for you.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.2 miles from Anna, IL, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.2 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Champaign, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anna, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anna, IL
This is one driving day of about 214.3 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Anna, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Ken Gray Expressway for about 133 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 71.9 and 214.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
210.7 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Take the exit toward I-72 East: University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 235A
Toward I-72 East: University Avenue
5
214.2 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|West Park Avenue
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
214.3 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|North Neil Street
Turn right onto North Neil Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.65 one way
$63.29 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.94
$69.88
premium
$4.72
$39.79
$79.58
diesel
$4.80
$40.46
$80.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.29
Efficient EV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
EV Truck/SUV
85.7
1
$30.00
$13.72
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 11, 2026
Origin
Anna, IL
Late night
in Anna on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WSW 8 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 10:39AM CDT until July 17 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 7:46AM CDT until July 11 at 1:45PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Champaign, IL
Late night
in Champaign on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 6 to 10 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 10:39AM CDT until July 17 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 7:46AM CDT until July 11 at 1:45PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 96% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 133 miles on Ken Gray Expressway before transitioning to I-57. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this section. The final portion of your drive will involve surface streets as you enter Champaign.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133 mi on Ken Gray Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ken Gray Expressway and I 57. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 71.9 miles in near I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 214.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 71.9 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 139.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 210.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Champaign-Urbana is a metropolitan area in central Illinois, composed of the towns of Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy. The community is the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois, one of the great public universities of the United States.
Top landmarks
•Orpheum Theatre — theater and movie theater in Champaign, Illinois, United States
•Virginia Theatre — movie theater in Champaign, Illinois, United States
•Cattle Bank — bank building in Champaign, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 214.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.9 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 139.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 210.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Champaign, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
