Origin
Monticello, IL
Late night in Monticello on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, 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
28m
Distance
21.3 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit between Monticello and Champaign, you can expect a brief 21.3-mile trip that typically takes about 28 minutes. This route is entirely contained within the Midwest, making it an efficient connection between these two Illinois communities. With a total fuel cost of approximately $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion that works perfectly as a half-day or day trip. Because the journey is so short, there is no need to consider an overnight split, allowing you total flexibility in your schedule. You will rely primarily on I-72 to bridge the gap before transitioning onto North Market Street and West University Avenue to reach your destination. It is a straightforward, no-nonsense drive designed for utility rather than exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 72 | 16.7 mi | 18m |
| North Market Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| West University Avenue | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Randolph Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Neil Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 16.7 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on West Center Street
21 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Center Street
2
Turn left onto IL 105
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Market Street
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I-72 East: Champaign
4
Merge onto I 72
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 72
5
Continue on West University Avenue
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West University Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
364 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Randolph Street
7
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
458 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Park Avenue
8
Turn right onto North Neil Street
320 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Neil Street
9
Arrive at destination
North Neil Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 105 / North Market Street
Turn left onto IL 105 / North Market Street
Navigation decision point
3
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I-72 East: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I-72 East: Champaign
4
21.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
North Randolph Street
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
West Park Avenue
Turn right onto West Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
21.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
North Neil Street
Turn right onto North Neil Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.33 one way
$6.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.66 | $7.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.10 | $8.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.70 | $9.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
5:26 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
28m 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 highway-focused experience, as 78% of this journey is spent on major thoroughfares. The core of your travel involves a 16.7-mile stretch on I-72, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the route. You will find that the drive feels efficient and fast-paced while you are on the interstate, providing a consistent rhythm to your commute. Once you exit the highway, the character of the road shifts as you navigate North Market Street and West University Avenue into the heart of Champaign. This transition from high-speed interstate travel to local urban roads provides a clear change in pace as you arrive at your destination.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and North Market Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 105 / North Market Street.
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 28m 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: near the start (IL 105 / North Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.1 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Monticello, IL
Full guide →Monticello is a city of 5,500 people (2019) in Central Illinois. For the visitor, it offers a railroad museum, an art-and-sculpture garden, and some beautiful historic homes.
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 28m. Total distance: 21.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 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 (IL 105 / North Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.1 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Champaign, IL
More from Monticello, IL
More trips to Champaign, IL
Explore more options from Monticello, IL or browse trips ending in Champaign, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.