Champaign, IL to Lynwood, IL is 118.1 miles and takes about 2h 48m via IL 9 and I-74, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traveling entirely within Illinois. It's a straightforward journey primarily on highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day drive. You'll experience a generally open landscape as you make your way north. Consider this route if you need a no-fuss way to get from point A to point B within the state.
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
59 miles from Champaign, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 9
77.9 mi
1h 49m
I 74
8.2 mi
9m
County Road 400 East
7.7 mi
10m
County Road 350 East
4.5 mi
6m
Minkler Road
4.3 mi
6m
North 450 East Road
3.5 mi
4m
Ashley Road
2.8 mi
3m
County Road 450 East
2.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
IL 9
— 77.9 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-74
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,258 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,539
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Lynwood, 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: BloomingtonUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 74
8.2 mi·9 min·I 74
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 172Toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet
10
Turn right onto IL 47
0.1 mi·16 sec·County Road 400 East
11
Continue on IL 47
4.5 mi·6 min·County Road 350 East
12
Continue on IL 47
7.5 mi·10 min·County Road 400 East
13
Continue on IL 47
2.1 mi·2 min·County Road 450 East
14
Continue on IL 47
3.5 mi·4 min·North 450 East Road
15
Continue on IL 47
383 ft·7 sec·North 450E Road
16
Continue on IL 47
0.4 mi·54 sec·South Sangamon Avenue
17
Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54
0.5 mi·53 sec·West 1st Street
18
Turn slight right
138 ft·7 sec
19
Turn right onto IL 9; IL 47
78 mi·1 hr 49 min·IL 9; IL 47
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Walker Road
21
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi·3 min·Ashley Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Schoolhouse Road
23
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi·4 min·Minkler Road
24
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
25
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
26
Continue on Orchard Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
27
Turn left onto US 34
0.2 mi·17 sec·US 34
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 34
0.5 mi·51 sec·US 34
29
Turn right onto East Rickard Drive
0.2 mi·1 min·East Rickard Drive
30
Turn left onto Edythe Street
307 ft·13 sec·Edythe Street
31
Arrive at destination
Edythe Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 48-minute duration, this trip is easily achievable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to break up the 77.9-mile stretch on IL 9. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway driving can consume fuel steadily; the estimated $18 budget should cover it, but it’s always wise to top off before leaving Champaign. The route is primarily on major roads, so be aware of typical highway traffic patterns as you approach your destination in Lynwood.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 23m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lynwood, 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 118.1 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 IL 9 for about 77.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.1 — 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
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
6
10.3 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 172
Toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet
6
117.1 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 34
Turn left onto US 34
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.64 one way
$39.27 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$21.39
$42.78
premium
$5.18
$24.10
$48.20
diesel
$5.35
$24.88
$49.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.40
$5.67
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.53
$7.56
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 May 26, 2026
Origin
Champaign, IL
Evening
in Champaign on Wednesday
Local time
6:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 3 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lynwood, IL
Evening
in Lynwood on Wednesday
Local time
6:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
2h 48m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely highway-focused, with 74% of the drive utilizing major roadways like IL 9 and I-74. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 77.9 miles on IL 9, offering a consistent pace. The journey begins with a highway focus and likely maintains that character for much of the trip. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency rather than winding backroads. This is a drive where you can settle in and cover ground with relative ease.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.9 mi on IL 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 9 and I 74. 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 2h 48m drive. You will face about 17 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 0.8 miles (West Bradley Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
803 ft522 ft
Total Climb
274 ft
Total Descent
365 ft
Highest Point
803 ft
~33.7 mi in
Elevation Range
281 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Champaign, IL to Lynwood, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Mahomet along the way.
Mahomet
10.3 mi in|~14m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The Library Café
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Champaign, IL
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 12...
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 77.9 miles on IL 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 0.8 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 Lynwood, IL before heading back.
