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Trip from Champaign, IL to Belleville, 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

3h 22m

Distance

177.2 mi

285 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 11m ★
6 AM
3h 23m
8 AM
3h 47m
10 AM
3h 31m
12 PM
3h 29m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 46m
8 PM
3h 16m

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

city in and seat of St. Clair County, Illinois, United States

Belleville, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 177.2-mile drive from Champaign, IL, to Belleville, IL, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 22 minutes on the road, covering the distance primarily on I-70 and I-57. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, this journey through the heart of the Midwest is budget-friendly. Given its manageable length and highway nature, it's an ideal candidate for a day trip, allowing you to arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stop. The route offers a practical way to travel between these two Illinois cities.

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

88.6 miles from Champaign, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 82.2 mi 1h 28m
I 57 77.4 mi 1h 23m
North Illinois Street 9.3 mi 14m
Vandalia Street 3 mi 4m
West Church Street 1.9 mi 4m
I 72 1.3 mi 1m
South Morrison Avenue 1.3 mi 1m
North Randolph Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 82.2 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Champaign, IL and Belleville, 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 182A Toward I 57 South: Memphis
7

Merge onto I 57

77 mi · 1 hr 23 min · I 57
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70

77 mi · 1 hr 22 min · I 70
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

5.4 mi · 6 min · I 70
Toward I 55 South, I 70 West: Saint Louis
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Exit 15A Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
11

Continue on IL 159

3.0 mi · 4 min · Vandalia Street
12

Continue on IL 159

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Morrison Avenue
13

Continue on IL 159

9.3 mi · 14 min · North Illinois Street
14

Turn left onto East F Street

59 ft · 2 sec · East F Street
15

Arrive at destination

East F Street

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 22-minute drive, leaving Champaign in the morning will allow you to reach Belleville with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage your breaks. The longest stretch without a major road change is 82.2 miles on I-70, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that section. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at a time that suits you best, but being mindful of potential rush hour traffic as you approach Belleville is a good idea. The estimated fuel cost of $28 makes this an economical choice.

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 88.6 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.2 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 39 miles or 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 88.6 miles or 1h 39m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belleville, 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 177.2 miles and 3h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 70 for about 82.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Clinton County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Carlyle, IL

89 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

Mattoon, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakewood, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.6 miles from Champaign, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.2 miles.

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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 158 — 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
6
158 mi into trip | ~2h 54m in | I 70

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 toward I 55 South, I 70 West: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 55 South, I 70 West: Saint Louis

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.70 one way

$55.41 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $30.42 $60.83
premium $4.89 $34.10 $68.20
diesel $5.61 $39.12 $78.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.2 0 $18.61 $8.51
Efficient EV 44.3 0 $15.50 $7.09
EV Truck/SUV 70.9 0 $24.81 $11.34

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Champaign, IL

Late night in Champaign on Tuesday

Local time

3:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Belleville, IL

Late night in Belleville on Tuesday

Local time

3:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 9 to 15 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 5:45PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 14 at 4:05PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

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

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

3h 22m 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 drive is largely a highway-focused experience, with 91% of the journey taking place on major interstates. You'll encounter an 82.2-mile stretch on I-70, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The profile suggests a steady, high-speed journey, making it efficient for covering ground. While the main roads are interstates, you'll transition onto North Illinois Street towards the end, providing a slight shift in character as you approach Belleville. Expect a predictable driving experience built for distance.

91% 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: 82.2 mi on I 70.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 57. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West University Avenue.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 9 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.

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

Arriving in Belleville, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1814

Belleville is a city in Illinois.

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 3h 22m. Total distance: 177.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 82.2 miles on I 70. 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: 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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Belleville, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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