Traveling from Champaign to Anna covers 214.6 miles across the Illinois heartland, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 57 minutes. Because this is a highway-focused drive with 96% of the route on major roads, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $33 for fuel to complete the trip. While both cities are located within the Midwest, the route takes you from central Illinois down toward the southern tip of the state. It is a straightforward transit route, making it ideal if you want to prioritize efficiency over scenic detours. Planning for one intentional stop will help you break up the time behind the wheel comfortably.
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
107.3 miles from Champaign, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
143.1 mi
2h 34m
Ken Gray Expressway
61.7 mi
1h 6m
East Vienna Street
5.8 mi
8m
West Church Street
1.9 mi
4m
I 72
1.3 mi
1m
North Randolph Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West University Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
770N
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 143.1 mi, about 2h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Champaign, IL and Anna, IL.
1
Start on North Neil Street
42 ft·5 sec·North Neil Street
2
Turn right onto West University Avenue
463 ft·17 sec·West University Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Randolph Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North Randolph Street
4
Turn left onto West Church Street
1.9 mi·4 min·West Church Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on I 72
1.3 mi·1 min·I 72
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 182AToward I 57 South: Memphis
7
Merge onto I 57
77 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 57
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·Ken Gray Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward IL 146: Anna, Vienna
11
Turn right onto IL 146
388 ft·6 sec·770N
12
Continue on IL 146
5.8 mi·8 min·East Vienna Street
13
Turn left onto IL 146
34 ft·0 sec·Broad Street
14
Arrive at destination
IL 146
Trip Plan
To keep your travel day stress-free, aim for an early departure to navigate the highway segments before peak traffic hours. Since the trip is under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility, but incorporating at least one planned stop is a smart way to stay alert during the long 143.1-mile stretch on I-57. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when you transition from the interstate to local roads like East Vienna Street, as service options may be more concentrated near the highway exits. Because this route is so heavily reliant on I-57, check for any major construction or lane closures on that specific corridor before you pull out of your driveway in Champaign.
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 107.3 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.1 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.3 miles or 1h 59m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anna, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Champaign, 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 Champaign, IL
This is one driving day of about 214.6 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Champaign, 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 I 57 for about 143.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stretch
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
$20 to $30
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
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 0 and 81.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West University Avenue
Turn right onto West University Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Randolph Street
Turn right onto North Randolph Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West Church Street
Turn left onto West Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 57 South: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 182A
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.55 one way
$67.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.84
$73.67
premium
$4.89
$41.30
$82.60
diesel
$5.61
$47.38
$94.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.4
0
$22.53
$10.30
Efficient EV
53.7
0
$18.78
$8.58
EV Truck/SUV
85.8
1
$30.04
$13.73
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Champaign, IL
Late night
in Champaign on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Anna, IL
Late night
in Anna on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a consistent interstate experience, as the majority of your travel occurs on I-57. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 143.1 miles, meaning you will spend most of your time maintaining highway speeds. Once you transition off the interstate, you will follow the Ken Gray Expressway and eventually East Vienna Street to reach your destination. With 96% of the path consisting of high-speed roadways, the drive feels utilitarian and direct rather than winding or technical. You can rely on a smooth, predictable ride that prioritizes speed and efficiency as you head south through the Illinois landscape.
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: 143.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West University Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Church Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 143.1 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Church Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Anna, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
