Connecting Maryville to Champaign, this 163.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Illinois Midwest. You can expect to spend about 3 hours and 1 minute behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a estimated fuel cost of $25, the drive is budget-friendly and efficient. You will primarily utilize a combination of I-70, I-57, and I-270 to complete the trip. Since the drive is short and manageable, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have specific business or social commitments at your destination. It is a practical route for those prioritizing speed and reliability over scenic detours.
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
81.6 miles from Maryville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
82.8 mi
1h 29m
I 57
71.4 mi
1h 16m
I 270
3.1 mi
3m
West University Avenue
1.9 mi
4m
South State Route 159
1.1 mi
1m
North Center Street
1 mi
1m
I 72
1 mi
1m
West Park Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryville, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on East Main Street
175 ft·11 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto IL 159
1.0 mi·1 min·North Center Street
3
Continue on IL 159
1.1 mi·1 min·South State Route 159
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 270 East: Effingham
5
Merge onto I 270
3.1 mi·3 min·I 270
6
Merge onto I 70
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 70
Toward I 70 East: Indianapolis
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
71 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 235AToward I-72 East: University Avenue
9
Merge onto I 72
1.0 mi·1 min·I 72
10
Continue on West University Avenue
1.9 mi·4 min·West University Avenue
11
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
364 ft·12 sec·North Randolph Street
12
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
458 ft·15 sec·West Park Avenue
13
Turn right onto North Neil Street
320 ft·10 sec·North Neil Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Neil Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour trip, plan for at least one stop to break up the monotony of the highway travel. Since the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though avoiding peak traffic hours near metro areas is always a smart move. Keep your $25 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops along the way. Given the heavy reliance on I-70 and I-57, check real-time traffic reports before you leave to ensure there are no major delays on those primary corridors. Taking a quick break midway will help you arrive in Champaign feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 81.6 miles from Maryville, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 36 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 Maryville, 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 Maryville, IL
This is one driving day of about 163.2 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Maryville, 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 70 for about 82.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 163.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 270 East: Effingham
Navigation decision point
Toward I 270 East: Effingham
5
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
159.6 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
163.1 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|West Park Avenue
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
163.1 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|North Neil Street
Turn right onto North Neil Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.51 one way
$51.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.01
$56.03
premium
$4.89
$31.41
$62.81
diesel
$5.61
$36.03
$72.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49
0
$17.14
$7.83
Efficient EV
40.8
0
$14.28
$6.53
EV Truck/SUV
65.3
0
$22.85
$10.44
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 17, 2026
Origin
Maryville, IL
Late night
in Maryville on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Champaign, IL
Late night
in Champaign on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Brownstown, IL
82 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
5 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
3h 1m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 98% of your journey spent on high-speed interstates. You should prepare for a consistent, steady pace as you navigate the transition between major thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-70, which spans 82.8 miles of the drive. Because the road personality is defined by these wide-open interstate stretches, you will find the experience to be very predictable. Expect a functional, no-nonsense drive that rewards steady cruising over technical maneuvering.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 57. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 1m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 88.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 159.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 82.8 miles on I 70. 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.
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 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 88.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 159.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Champaign, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
