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Trip from Blue Mound, IL to Champaign, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

64.7 mi

104 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Blue Mound, IL, IL

Blue Mound, IL

Siarhei Nester

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Blue Mound to Champaign, IL, expect a straightforward journey covering 64.7 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily through local roads, including West University Avenue, North Randolph Street, and West Park Avenue, rather than relying on major interstates. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel should cover your needs for this excursion. Since the entire route remains within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a practical choice for those who prefer avoiding high-speed highways in favor of a more direct, local transit path.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 72 37.8 mi 41m
US 51 15.1 mi 16m
North Railroad Avenue 9.3 mi 10m
West University Avenue 1.9 mi 4m
West Park Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
North Randolph Street <0.1 mi <1m
North Neil Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 72 — 37.8 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blue Mound, IL and Champaign, IL.

1

Start on IL 48

9.3 mi · 10 min · North Railroad Avenue
2

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
3

Merge onto US 51

15 mi · 16 min · US 51
4

Continue on I 72

38 mi · 41 min · I 72
5

Continue on West University Avenue

1.9 mi · 4 min · West University Avenue
6

Turn left onto North Randolph Street

364 ft · 12 sec · North Randolph Street
7

Turn right onto West Park Avenue

458 ft · 15 sec · West Park Avenue
8

Turn right onto North Neil Street

320 ft · 10 sec · North Neil Street
9

Arrive at destination

North Neil Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Cerro Gordo, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cerro Gordo, IL

32 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Harristown, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cerro Gordo, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from Blue Mound, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 64.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
9.3 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

3
9.6 mi into trip | ~11m in | US 51

Merge onto US 51

Merge point - match speed before joining

4
64.5 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | North Randolph Street

Turn left onto North Randolph Street

Navigation decision point

5
64.6 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | West Park Avenue

Turn right onto West Park Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
64.7 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | North Neil Street

Turn right onto North Neil Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.12 one way

$20.23 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.11 $22.21
premium $4.89 $12.45 $24.90
diesel $5.61 $14.28 $28.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.4 0 $6.79 $3.11
Efficient EV 16.2 0 $5.66 $2.59
EV Truck/SUV 25.9 0 $9.06 $4.14

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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 Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Blue Mound, IL

Morning in Blue Mound on Sunday

Local time

9:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

W 17 mph 68% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:59AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Champaign, IL

Morning in Champaign on Sunday

Local time

9:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 15 mph 90% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:59AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

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

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 14m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning your speed and rhythm will fluctuate as you navigate through various local segments. The path relies entirely on surface streets, creating a driving experience that feels more connected to the rural and town landscapes of Illinois. Because there are no major highway stretches, you will be making frequent adjustments to your speed and steering. This is a technical, low-speed route that rewards drivers who prefer steady, controlled movement over the high-velocity intensity of the open freeway.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on I 72.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and US 51. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Blue Mound, IL to Champaign, IL is easy. At 1h 14m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 9.6 miles (US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 64.5 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point.

About the Cities

Starting in Blue Mound, IL

Full guide →

Arriving in Champaign, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1855

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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 64.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on I 72. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 9.6 miles (US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 64.5 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Champaign, IL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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