Champaign to Benton is 168.2 miles and takes about 3 hours 6 minutes via I 57, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on the interstate, making it a practical option for a single-day trip. You'll find it's a direct route with minimal complexity, ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss drive between these two points.
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
84.1 miles from Champaign, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
143.1 mi
2h 34m
Ken Gray Expressway
20 mi
21m
West Church Street
1.9 mi
4m
I 72
1.3 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Randolph Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West University Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 143.1 mi, about 2h 34m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,019 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,417
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 99 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 Champaign, IL and Benton, 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
20 mi·21 min·Ken Gray Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
11
Turn left onto IL 14
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
12
Enter roundabout onto IL 14; IL 37
349 ft·5 sec·Public Square
13
Arrive at destination
IL 14; IL 37
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, departing Champaign in the morning allows ample time to reach Benton before evening. With only one recommended stop and a short drive time, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Consider filling up your tank before leaving Champaign to utilize the $27 fuel budget efficiently. Watch for the transition off I 57; the final leg involves surface roads like West Church Street, which may have more local traffic and lower speed limits.
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 84.1 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 34m 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 miles or 1h 34m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, 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 168.2 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
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
$26.08 one way
$52.16 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$28.59
$57.19
premium
$4.93
$32.63
$65.27
diesel
$5.60
$37.08
$74.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.5
0
$17.66
$8.07
Efficient EV
42.1
0
$14.72
$6.73
EV Truck/SUV
67.3
0
$23.55
$10.76
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Champaign, IL
Evening
in Champaign on Friday
Local time
5:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benton, IL
Evening
in Benton on Friday
Local time
5:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
5 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 6m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of it on major roads like I 57. You'll encounter a long stretch of 143.1 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface streets. Expect a steady pace with relatively few interruptions for most of the trip. The profile is mostly highway, meaning you'll likely notice a consistent flow of traffic and a straightforward driving experience.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 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 6m 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.
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.
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 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Benton, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
