This 136.5-mile journey from Near North Side, IL, to Champaign, IL, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. You'll spend about 95% of your time on highways, making it an efficient trip with a projected fuel cost of around $21. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a direct path through the Midwest. Given its manageable distance and duration, it’s well-suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This drive is a practical option for getting between these two Illinois locations without requiring an overnight stay.
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
68.3 miles from Near North Side, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
117.8 mi
2h 11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
11m
Market Street
3.9 mi
6m
Dan Ryan Expressway
2.4 mi
2m
North Neil Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Wells Street
0.6 mi
1m
Kennedy Expressway
0.6 mi
<1m
West Grand Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 117.8 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Near North Side, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on North Wells Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Wells Street
2
Turn right onto West Grand Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto North Desplaines Street
0.4 mi·56 sec·North Desplaines Street
4
Turn right onto West Lake Street
452 ft·10 sec·West Lake Street
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 EastUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.6 mi·56 sec·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi·2 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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 ExpressUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
118 mi·2 hr 11 min·I 57
Exit 63Toward I 57 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 240Toward Market Street
11
Turn left
96 ft·5 sec
12
Turn left onto Market Street
3.9 mi·6 min·Market Street
13
Turn right onto East Bradley Avenue
0.3 mi·34 sec·East Bradley Avenue
14
Turn left onto North Neil Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Neil Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Neil Street
Trip Plan
For this efficient 2-hour and 41-minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you best, though an early start can help you beat any potential traffic leaving the Chicago area. With only one recommended stop and the majority of the drive on I-57, plan your refueling before you depart or around the halfway point to ensure comfort. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so factor that into your budget. Given the relatively short distance, you won’t need to split this trip, but keeping an eye on traffic conditions, especially on the Dan Ryan Expressway, is always a good idea.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.3 miles from Near North Side, IL, or about 1h 21m 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 30 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.3 miles or 1h 21m 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 10m
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 Near North Side, 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 Near North Side, IL
This is one driving day of about 136.5 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Near North Side, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 13.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|West Grand Avenue
Turn right onto West Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East, I 94 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
5
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|I 90; I 94 / Kennedy Expressway
Merge onto I 90; I 94 / Kennedy Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
4.7 mi into trip|~8m 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
13.5 mi into trip|~20m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.34 one way
$42.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.43
$46.86
premium
$4.89
$26.27
$52.54
diesel
$5.61
$30.14
$60.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.9
0
$14.33
$6.55
Efficient EV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
EV Truck/SUV
54.6
0
$19.11
$8.74
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Near North Side, IL
Late night
in Near North Side on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Champaign, IL
Late night
in Champaign on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
14 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
2h 41m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 95% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 117.8 miles on I-57, meaning you can settle in for a significant period. While the focus is on efficient travel, the highway-focused profile suggests a consistent pace. Transitioning from the urban expressways near Chicago to the more open highway stretches of central Illinois will be the main change you notice as you progress.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near West Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 136.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.6 miles (West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 90; I 94 / Kennedy Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 136.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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.
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 0.6 miles (West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 90; I 94 / Kennedy Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Champaign, IL before heading back.
