Origin
Maroa, IL
Morning in Maroa on Sunday
Local time
6:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maroa, 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
1h 4m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 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
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maroa, IL
Semih Başaran
Trip Overview
This straightforward 53.4-mile drive from Maroa, IL, to Champaign, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 4 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-72, US 51, and West University Avenue, this route offers a focused highway experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, it’s an economical option for travelers within the Midwest. Given the short duration and minimal stops recommended, you'll find this journey efficient for quickly connecting these two Illinois locations. It's a practical choice for a quick hop between towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 72 | 41.9 mi | 45m |
| US 51 | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| West University Avenue | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South Wood Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Old US Hwy 51 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Randolph Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Neil Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 41.9 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maroa, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on West Main Street
218 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Wood Street
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Wood Street
3
Continue on Old US Hwy 51
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Old US Hwy 51
4
Turn left onto US 51
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
US 51
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 72 East: Champaign
6
Merge onto I 72
42 mi
·
45 min
·
I 72
7
Continue on West University Avenue
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West University Avenue
8
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
364 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Randolph Street
9
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
458 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Park Avenue
10
Turn right onto North Neil Street
320 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Neil Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Neil Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from Maroa, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 53.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Wood Street
Turn right onto South Wood Street
Navigation decision point
4
9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 72 East: Champaign
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 72 East: Champaign
4
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
North Randolph Street
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
Navigation decision point
5
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
West Park Avenue
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
53.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
North Neil Street
Turn right onto North Neil Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.35 one way
$16.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.17 | $18.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.28 | $20.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Morning in Champaign on Sunday
Local time
6:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Monticello, IL
27 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m 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?
Expect a heavily highway-focused drive for this 53.4-mile stretch, with 95% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion on I-72, including a continuous segment of 41.9 miles. The route transitions from interstate travel to US 51 and finally West University Avenue, offering a consistent pace for most of the trip. This road's personality is one of efficiency and directness, designed for covering ground quickly rather than leisurely exploration. It’s a drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and US 51. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Wood Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Maroa, IL to Champaign, IL is easy. At 1h 4m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Wood Street): Navigation decision point; at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 53.2 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point.
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 4m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.9 miles on I 72. 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: near the start (South Wood Street): Navigation decision point; at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 53.2 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point.
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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