Origin
Fairfield, IL
Evening in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
6:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, IL to Champaign, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
138 mi
222 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fairfield, IL to Champaign, IL is 138 miles and takes about 2 hours 57 minutes via I 57 and US Route 45, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive that primarily uses major highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Expect a largely functional journey with minimal detours, ideal if you prioritize reaching your destination quickly.
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
69 miles from Fairfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 72.2 mi | 1h 17m |
| County Road 925 E | 16.2 mi | 24m |
| United States Route 45 | 14.9 mi | 22m |
| County Road 1400E | 14.3 mi | 20m |
| County Road 1600E | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| West Main Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| West University Avenue | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South 3rd Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 72.2 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on US 45
245 ft
·
11 sec
·
South 1st Street
2
Turn left onto US 45; IL 15
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 45
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 1600E
4
Continue on US 45
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
5
Continue on US 45
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road 1600E
6
Continue on US 45
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 1800N
7
Continue on US 45
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Street
8
Continue on US 45
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Central Street
9
Continue on US 45
14 mi
·
20 min
·
County Road 1400E
10
Turn right onto US 45
16 mi
·
24 min
·
County Road 925 E
11
Continue on US 45
15 mi
·
22 min
·
United States Route 45
12
Turn right onto US 40; US 45; IL 33
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Fayette Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 45
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South 3rd Street
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute
15
Merge onto I 57; I 70
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 57; I 70
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
71 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 235A
Toward I-72 East: University Avenue
18
Merge onto I 72
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 72
19
Continue on West University Avenue
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West University Avenue
20
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
364 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Randolph Street
21
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
458 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Park Avenue
22
Turn right onto North Neil Street
320 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Neil Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Neil Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time under 3 hours, this is easily a same-day trip, so you can leave Fairfield, IL anytime that suits your schedule. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your daylight hours. You'll only have one recommended stop, but with the longest stretch being just over 72 miles, you can easily push through if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $20; plan to refuel before you leave Fairfield if you prefer a full tank for the drive. US Route 45 will be your main connector for a portion of the trip, so be aware of potential local traffic.
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 69 miles from Fairfield, IL, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.2 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 30 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Champaign, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 138 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Fairfield, 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 72.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69 miles from Fairfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.2 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 61.7 and 137.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
61.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Take the ramp toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre...
5
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
134.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward I-72 East: University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 235A
Toward I-72 East: University Avenue
5
137.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
|
West Park Avenue
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
137.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
|
North Neil Street
Turn right onto North Neil Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.57 one way
$43.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.69 | $47.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.56 | $53.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.47 | $60.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.4 | 0 | $14.49 | $6.62 |
| Efficient EV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.08 | $5.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.32 | $8.83 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Champaign, IL
Evening in Champaign on Sunday
Local time
6:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Altamont, IL
69 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 64% of the journey on major roads like I 57. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 72.2 miles on I 57. While the majority is highway, there are also sections on county roads and US Route 45, offering a slight variation from the interstate grind. The transition from interstate to more local roads will likely occur as you approach your destination, offering a gradual shift in scenery and speed.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 925 E. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 61.7 miles in.
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 2h 57m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 61.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 134.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Fairfield, IL to Champaign, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Terre Haute along the way.
Terre Haute
61.7 mi in
|
~1h 30m
About the Cities
Starting in Fairfield, IL
Full guide →Arriving 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 2h 57m. Total distance: 138 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 61.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 134.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Champaign, 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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