Origin
Kenilworth, IL
Late night in Kenilworth on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenilworth, IL to Champaign, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
152.4 mi
245 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 54m
★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenilworth, IL
Phil Ledwith
Trip Overview
This 152.4-mile drive from Kenilworth, IL, to Champaign, IL, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 3 hours and 5 minutes. With 93% of the journey on major highways like I-57, the Dan Ryan Expressway, and the Kennedy Expressway, you'll spend most of your time on the interstate. This makes it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip, with a fuel cost estimated around $24. Given its efficient nature, this route through the Midwest is perfect for a quick connection between these two Illinois locales without the need for an overnight stop.
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
76.2 miles from Kenilworth, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 117.8 mi | 2h 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| Market Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Edens Expressway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Gross Point Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 117.8 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenilworth, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on Park Drive
61 ft
·
5 sec
·
Park Drive
2
Turn right onto Green Bay Road
170 ft
·
7 sec
·
Green Bay Road
3
Turn right onto Kenilworth Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Kenilworth Avenue
4
Turn slight left onto Ridge Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Ridge Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on Gross Point Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Gross Point Road
6
Turn left onto US 41
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on IL 50
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Cicero Avenue
8
Turn right onto West Touhy Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 94 East: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 94
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
118 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
I 57
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 240
Toward Market Street
16
Turn left
96 ft
·
5 sec
17
Turn left onto Market Street
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Market Street
18
Turn right onto East Bradley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Bradley Avenue
19
Turn left onto North Neil Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Neil Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Neil Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3-hour duration, this trip from Kenilworth to Champaign is best tackled as a single-day excursion. Aim to depart Kenilworth in the morning to avoid potential rush hour congestion on the expressways closer to Chicago. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $24, you can be quite flexible with your timing. A key piece of advice for this route is to monitor traffic conditions on the Dan Ryan Expressway and Kennedy Expressway, especially if traveling during peak commuting hours, as they are the most likely areas for delays on this otherwise smooth highway-focused journey.
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 76.2 miles from Kenilworth, IL, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.8 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 34 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.2 miles or 1h 36m 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 30m
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 Kenilworth, 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 Kenilworth, IL
This is one driving day of about 152.4 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Kenilworth, 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 117.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.2 miles from Kenilworth, 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 117.8 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 147.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
West Touhy Avenue
Turn right onto West Touhy Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 94 / Edens Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Edens Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
147.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward Market Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 240
Toward Market Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.83 one way
$47.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.16 | $52.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.33 | $58.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.65 | $67.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.7 | 0 | $16.00 | $7.32 |
| Efficient EV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.33 | $6.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61 | 0 | $21.34 | $9.75 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Champaign, IL
Late night in Champaign on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
9 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 5m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 31.5
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 152.4-mile route, with 93% of the drive utilizing major expressways and interstates. You'll encounter stretches like the 117.8-mile segment on I-57, which provides a consistent, high-speed journey. While the primary character is that of an interstate cruise, be prepared for the urban ingress and egress on the Dan Ryan Expressway and Kennedy Expressway, which can introduce more traffic. Overall, it's a functional drive designed for covering ground efficiently.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.8 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near West Touhy Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 152.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (West Touhy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (I 94 / Edens Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3h 5m. Total distance: 152.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.8 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Champaign, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (West Touhy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (I 94 / Edens Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 Champaign, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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