Trip from River Forest, IL to Champaign, IL

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 48m

Distance

136.1 mi

219 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 38m ★

6 AM

2h 49m

8 AM

3h 10m

10 AM

2h 56m

12 PM

2h 54m

3 PM

2h 57m

5 PM

3h 9m

8 PM

2h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

River Forest, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 147.1-mile journey from River Forest, IL, to Champaign, IL, is a straightforward, one-day trip taking approximately 2 hours and 29 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via local roads and the Eisenhower Expressway, with a 0% highway share, suggesting a more involved driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest, Illinois-to-Illinois route is around $22. Given its manageable length and duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. It offers a practical way to travel between these two Illinois locations without the stress of a multi-day commitment.

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

68.1 miles from River Forest, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	105.4 mi	1h 54m
South Cicero Avenue	13 mi	21m
Cicero Avenue	6.6 mi	10m
Market Street	3.9 mi	6m
Eisenhower Expressway	2.7 mi	3m
North Harlem Avenue	1.7 mi	4m
North Neil Street	0.7 mi	1m
Augusta Street	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 105.4 mi, about 1h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between River Forest, IL and Champaign, IL.

Start on Augusta Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Augusta Street

Turn right onto IL 43

1.7 mi · 4 min · North Harlem Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 290 East Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 290; IL 110

2.7 mi · 3 min · Eisenhower Expressway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 24B Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto West Lexington Street

302 ft · 9 sec · West Lexington Street

Turn right onto IL 50

13 mi · 21 min · South Cicero Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on IL 50

6.6 mi · 10 min · Cicero Avenue

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto 167th Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · 167th Street

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

Merge onto I 57

105 mi · 1 hr 54 min · I 57

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec

Exit 240 Toward Market Street

Turn left

96 ft · 5 sec

Turn left onto Market Street

3.9 mi · 6 min · Market Street

Turn right onto East Bradley Avenue

0.3 mi · 34 sec · East Bradley Avenue

Turn left onto North Neil Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Neil Street

Arrive at destination

North Neil Street

Trip Plan

Plan for a 2 hour and 29-minute drive covering 147.1 miles, with an estimated fuel cost of $22. Since this is a comfortable one-day trip, you have the flexibility to leave when you're ready. Given the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, be prepared for frequent changes in direction and potentially navigating through town centers, so keeping your navigation active is key. While there are no specified stops, consider taking a short break around the halfway point to stretch your legs, especially as you'll be making more frequent adjustments than on a highway. A good tip for this route is to check local traffic conditions on North Harlem Avenue and I-290 East before you depart, as these main arteries can experience congestion.

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 68.1 miles from River Forest, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.4 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 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68.1 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 18m

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 River Forest, 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 River Forest, IL

This is one driving day of about 136.1 miles and 2h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from River Forest, 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 105.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

68 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

Orland Park, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Otto, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.1 miles from River Forest, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · first break window

Golden Bear Pancake & Crepery Restaurants

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Alsip, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

First break · 24min in 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–2:30 pm

+17086533454

Visit website

Restaurant Kairos

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Chicago, Illinois

0.6 mi

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Oak Park, Illinois

1 mi

Best coffee break · early in the drive

The Well

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manteno, Illinois

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch · 1h in 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+17795295090

Visit website

Friendly Coffee Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Berwyn, Illinois

2.5 mi

Golden Bear Pancake & Crepery Restaurants

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Alsip, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–2:30 pm

+17086533454

Visit website

Restaurant Kairos

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Chicago, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+17735852007

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Oak Park, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17086132999

Visit website

Yolks & Berries

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Bradley, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18159351501

Visit website

Crossroads Cantina

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Final third 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Gilman, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18157075200

Visit website

Piacere Mio Italian Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30

Forest Park, Illinois

Hours: 4–9 pm

+17083664010

Visit website

Habrae Thai dessert cafe & restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Forest Park, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+17086898852

Visit website

Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Urbana, Illinois

+12173672340

Visit website

The Well

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Manteno, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+17795295090

Visit website

Friendly Coffee Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Berwyn, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+17084849794

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

Champaign, Illinois

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12175312800

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 5.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | IL 43 / North Harlem Avenue

Turn right onto IL 43 / North Harlem Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

2.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Turn left toward I 290 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 290 East

2.3 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway

Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

5 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 24B Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue

5.2 mi into trip | ~10m in | IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue

Turn right onto IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.28 one way

$42.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$23.36	$46.72
premium	$4.89	$26.19	$52.38
diesel	$5.61	$30.05	$60.10

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: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.8	$14.29	$6.53
Efficient EV	34	$11.91	$5.44
EV Truck/SUV	54.4	$19.05	$8.71

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 20, 2026

Origin

River Forest, IL

Late night in River Forest on Tuesday

Local time

3:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Champaign, IL

Late night in Champaign on Tuesday

Local time

3:46 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

7 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

2h 48m 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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 18.8

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 147.1-mile trip. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter long stretches of high-speed interstate travel. Instead, your route will involve navigating through communities using roads like North Harlem Avenue and I-290 East. The absence of a significant longest uninterrupted stretch indicates frequent intersections and potential traffic lights. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be actively engaged with the road, making it feel more like an urban or suburban transit than an open highway cruise.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 105.4 mi on I 57.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and South Cicero Avenue. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IL 43 / North Harlem Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 136.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.4 miles (IL 43 / North Harlem Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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 2h 48m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 105.4 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

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.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from River Forest, IL or browse trips ending in Champaign, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Trip from River Forest, IL to Champaign, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Golden Bear Pancake & Crepery Restaurants

The Well

Golden Bear Pancake & Crepery Restaurants

Restaurant Kairos

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

Yolks & Berries

Crossroads Cantina

Piacere Mio Italian Restaurant

Habrae Thai dessert cafe & restaurant

Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

The Well

Friendly Coffee Lounge

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

EV Connect Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

River Forest, IL

Champaign, IL

Same local time

7 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 48m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Champaign, IL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Champaign, IL

More from River Forest, IL

More trips to Champaign, IL