Origin
University Park, IL
Morning in University Park on Tuesday
Local time
8:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from University Park, 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
2h 3m
Distance
105.9 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 54m
★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 9m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University Park, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
This 105.9-mile drive from University Park, IL, to Champaign, IL, is a straightforward 2-hour trip, making it an ideal day trip. With 91% of the journey on highways, you'll spend most of your time on Interstate 57. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $17, so you won't need to budget much for gas. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, this route is best tackled in one go without an overnight stop. It's a practical, no-frills drive through the Midwest, perfect for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from University Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 94.2 mi | 1h 40m |
| Market Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| South Governors Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| University Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Monee Manhattan Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Stuenkel Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Neil Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Burnham Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 94.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Park, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on this road
203 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Sandra Drive
244 ft
·
12 sec
·
Sandra Drive
3
Turn right onto Burnham Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Burnham Drive
4
Turn left onto CH 49
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
University Parkway
5
Turn left onto Stuenkel Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Stuenkel Road
6
Turn left onto South Governors Highway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Governors Highway
7
Turn right onto CH 21
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Monee Manhattan Road
8
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
9
Merge onto I 57
94 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
I 57
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 240
Toward 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 drive, leaving anytime works well, but an early start can help you beat any potential commuter traffic. You won't need to worry about frequent stops, as the longest stretch is manageable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before you begin the 94.2-mile segment on I-57, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. Since this is a short, highway-centric trip, you have the flexibility to depart on your schedule without needing to plan for lengthy breaks.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.9 miles from University Park, IL, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.2 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
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 University Park, 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 University Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 105.9 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from University Park, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 94.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.9 miles from University Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.2 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 100.7 — 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
|
Sandra Drive
Turn right onto Sandra Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Burnham Drive
Turn right onto Burnham Drive
Navigation decision point
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Stuenkel Road
Turn left onto Stuenkel Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Turn left toward I-57 South: Kankakee
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
5
100.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward Market Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 240
Toward Market Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.56 one way
$33.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.18 | $36.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.38 | $40.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.38 | $46.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.12 | $5.08 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.27 | $4.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.83 | $6.78 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Tuesday
Local time
8:27 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 3m 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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 91% of the drive taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 94.2 miles, primarily on I-57. This means you'll be on faster roads for the vast majority of your travel, with minimal time spent on local streets like Market Street or South Governors Highway. The character of the drive is consistent for most of the journey, emphasizing efficiency over varied scenery.
91% 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: 94.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Market Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sandra Drive.
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 2h 3m drive. You will face about 13 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 (Sandra Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Burnham Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Stuenkel Road): 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 2h 3m. Total distance: 105.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sandra Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Burnham Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Stuenkel Road): Navigation decision point.
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.
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