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Trip from Champaign, IL to Atlanta, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

66.7 mi

107 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

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 Atlanta, IL, IL

Atlanta, IL

Kelly

Trip Overview

Champaign, IL to Atlanta, IL is 66.7 miles and takes about 1h 16m via I 74, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward local journey. Primarily a highway-focused drive, it’s a quick hop that doesn't require extensive planning or an overnight stay. Expect a no-frills commute that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours. It's the kind of drive you can easily tackle on a whim or as a quick leg of a larger trip.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 74 46.4 mi 50m
South Veterans Parkway 16.8 mi 18m
North Randolph Street 0.8 mi 2m
Bloomington Road 0.7 mi 1m
East South Street 0.5 mi 1m
North Prospect Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
West University Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
West Bradley Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 74 — 46.4 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Champaign, IL and Atlanta, 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

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Randolph Street
4

At end of road, turn left onto West Bradley Avenue

458 ft · 13 sec · West Bradley Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Turn slight right onto Bloomington Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bloomington Road
6

Turn right onto US 150

0.3 mi · 38 sec · North Prospect Avenue
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto I 74

46 mi · 50 min · I 74
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 134A Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
10

Merge onto I 55 Business

17 mi · 18 min · South Veterans Parkway
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 140 Toward Atlanta, Lawndale Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto CR 6

0.5 mi · 1 min · East South Street
13

Turn left onto Southwest Arch Street

118 ft · 2 sec · Southwest Arch Street
14

Turn right onto South Street

151 ft · 6 sec · South Street
15

Arrive at destination

South Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Empire, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Empire, IL

33 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

Mahomet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Empire, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.3 miles from Champaign, 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 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 65.7 — 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

7
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | West Bradley Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto West Bradley Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Bloomington

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
5
48.6 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 134A Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
65.7 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Take the exit toward Atlanta, Lawndale

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 140 Toward Atlanta, Lawndale

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.43 one way

$20.86 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.45 $22.90
premium $4.89 $12.84 $25.67
diesel $5.61 $14.73 $29.45

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 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 20 0 $7.00 $3.20
Efficient EV 16.7 0 $5.84 $2.67
EV Truck/SUV 26.7 0 $9.34 $4.27

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

Champaign, IL

Late night in Champaign on Tuesday

Local time

5:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 16 mph 99% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Atlanta, IL

Late night in Atlanta on Tuesday

Local time

5:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Empire, IL

33 mi in

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

20 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 16m 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?

This is a highway-focused drive with 95% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 74, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 46.4 miles. The journey begins on South Veterans Parkway and North Randolph Street before merging onto the interstate. Expect a consistent driving experience characteristic of interstate travel, designed for smooth, high-speed transit across the landscape. The road maintains its highway profile for the vast majority of the trip, offering a direct and predictable path.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.4 mi on I 74.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and South Veterans Parkway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West University Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 66.7 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: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (West Bradley Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting 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 16m. Total distance: 66.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.4 miles on I 74. 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: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (West Bradley Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atlanta, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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