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Trip from Forrest, IL to Champaign, 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 11m

Distance

50.4 mi

81 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 6m ★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m

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

Downtown Forrest, IL, IL

Forrest, IL

Lauri Poldre

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Forrest to Champaign, Illinois, you can expect a quick 50.6-mile journey that typically takes about 59 minutes to complete. Because the entire route covers a relatively short distance within the Midwest, this trip is best suited for a single day of driving. You won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, as the total fuel cost is quite manageable at approximately $8. This drive functions well as a straightforward connection between these two Illinois locations. Since there are no planned stops along the way, it remains a highly efficient way to reach your destination without unnecessary delays.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North 390 East Road 10.8 mi 15m
I 74 9 mi 10m
County Road 400 East 7.7 mi 10m
North 2700 East Road 6.7 mi 9m
County Road 350 East 4.5 mi 6m
North 450 East Road 3.5 mi 4m
County Road 450 East 2.1 mi 2m
North Neil Street 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: North 390 East Road — 10.8 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Forrest, IL and Champaign, IL.

1

Start on IL 47

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Center Street
2

Continue on IL 47

6.7 mi · 9 min · North 2700 East Road
3

Continue on IL 47

0.7 mi · 1 min · North 2750 East Road
4

Continue on IL 47

1.1 mi · 1 min · North 2775 East Road
5

Continue on IL 47

0.4 mi · 36 sec · North 2790 East Road
6

Continue on IL 47

0.4 mi · 32 sec · North 385 East Road
7

Continue on IL 47

11 mi · 15 min · North 390 East Road
8

Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54

0.5 mi · 1 min · West 1st Street
9

Turn right onto IL 47

0.4 mi · 47 sec · South Sangamon Avenue
10

Continue on IL 47

383 ft · 7 sec · North 450E Road
11

Continue on IL 47

3.5 mi · 4 min · North 450 East Road
12

Continue on IL 47

2.1 mi · 2 min · County Road 450 East
13

Continue on IL 47

7.5 mi · 10 min · County Road 400 East
14

Continue on IL 47

4.5 mi · 6 min · County Road 350 East
15

Continue on IL 47

0.2 mi · 28 sec · County Road 400 East
16

Continue on IL 47

506 ft · 12 sec · North Lombard Street
17

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 74 East: Champaign
18

Merge onto I 74

9.0 mi · 10 min · I 74
Use the slight right lane.
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 182 Toward Neil Street
20

Keep slight right at fork

140 ft · 5 sec
Exit 182 Toward Neil Street
21

Turn right onto North Neil Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Neil Street
22

Arrive at destination

North Neil Street

Where to Stop

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

village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fisher, IL

25 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

Melvin, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harpster, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Forrest, 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 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 21.3 and 49.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
21.3 mi into trip | ~31m in | IL 47 / South Sangamon Avenue

Turn right onto IL 47 / South Sangamon Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
39.7 mi into trip | ~57m in

Take the ramp toward I 74 East: Champaign

Navigation decision point

Toward I 74 East: Champaign
5
40 mi into trip | ~58m in | I 74

Merge onto I 74

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
49 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in

Take the exit toward Neil Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 182 Toward Neil Street
7
49.2 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Neil Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 182 Toward Neil Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.88 one way

$15.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.65 $17.30
premium $4.89 $9.70 $19.40
diesel $5.61 $11.13 $22.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.1 0 $5.29 $2.42
Efficient EV 12.6 0 $4.41 $2.02
EV Truck/SUV 20.2 0 $7.06 $3.23

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Forrest, IL

Late night in Forrest on Tuesday

Local time

3:06 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Champaign, IL

Late night in Champaign on Tuesday

Local time

3:06 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1h 11m 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 journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, favoring rural roads over high-speed interstates. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, relying instead on North 2700 East Road, North 2750 East Road, and North 2775 East Road to navigate the landscape. Because this route avoids major thoroughfares, you can expect a much more hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to a standard interstate cruise. The path remains consistent in its technical nature, requiring your full attention as you navigate the local road network. It is a practical alternative for those who prefer local driving over the predictability of a highway commute.

Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.8 mi on North 390 East Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 21.3 miles in near IL 47 / South Sangamon Avenue.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 11m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 21.3 miles (IL 47 / South Sangamon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 39.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

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 1h 11m. Total distance: 50.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 10.8 miles on North 390 East Road. 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: at 21.3 miles (IL 47 / South Sangamon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 39.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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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Explore More

Explore more options from Forrest, IL or browse trips ending in Champaign, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.