The Literary
Near the end, right off the route
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
+12179541500
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westmont, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 136.1-mile drive from Westmont, IL, to Champaign, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 43 minutes. The route primarily utilizes major highways, with about 77% of the journey on interstates and tollways, including I-57 and the Tri-State Tollway. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. This straightforward drive is well-suited for a quick getaway or an efficient transit between these Illinois locations, allowing for a flexible schedule due to its manageable length and single recommended stop.
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 miles from Westmont, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 105.4 mi | 1h 54m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| Cicero Avenue | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Market Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| East Ogden Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| North Cass Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Mile-Long Bridge | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Neil Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Westmont, IL and Champaign, IL.
Start on West Burlington Avenue
Turn left onto North Cass Avenue
Turn right onto US 34
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 294
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
Continue on I 294
Continue on I 294
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto IL 50; IL 83
Turn left onto 167th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 57
Take the exit
Turn left
Turn left onto Market Street
Turn right onto East Bradley Avenue
Turn left onto North Neil Street
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, this trip from Westmont to Champaign offers considerable flexibility. You can depart at your convenience, and with only one recommended stop, you have ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major exit is over 100 miles on I-57. Planning your departure to avoid peak rush hour traffic around the Chicago metropolitan area, especially when navigating the Tri-State Tollway, will make your journey smoother.
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.
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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 25m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Champaign, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Westmont, 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 Westmont, IL
This is one driving day of about 136.1 miles and 2h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 68 miles from Westmont, 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 105.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · home stretch
Champaign, Illinois
Near the end, right off the route
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
+12179541500
Dolce Restaurant & Wine Bar
Westmont, Illinois
Golden Bear Pancake & Crepery Restaurants
Alsip, Illinois
Best coffee break · early in the drive
Manteno, Illinois
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 7 am–6 pm
+17795295090
Bonny's Bistro
Matteson, Illinois
Near the end, right off the route
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
+12179541500
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Westmont, Illinois
Hours: 4–9 pm
+16306630401
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Alsip, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–2:30 pm
+17086533454
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: 9 am–8:30 pm
+12174032000
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Bradley, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+18159351501
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Gilman, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+18157075200
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Urbana, Illinois
+12173672340
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Westmont, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+16304554298
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Manteno, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–6 pm
+17795295090
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Matteson, Illinois
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+17738964817
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Chicago Ridge, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–1 pm
+17085813915
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~9 min detour
Frankfort, Illinois
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+18477444958
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Posen, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~11 min detour
Tinley Park, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–11 pm
+17089044960
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Champaign, Illinois
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+12175312800
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
+18668167584
Near the end, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+12173528910
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Willowbrook, Illinois
Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~10 min detour
Frankfort, Illinois
Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm
+18154697124
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 130.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Market Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$21.28 one way
$42.56 round trip
| 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 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
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 | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.29 | $6.53 |
| Efficient EV | 34 | 0 | $11.91 | $5.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.4 | 0 | $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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Westmont on Tuesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Champaign on Tuesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this route, with 77% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-57 and the Tri-State Tollway. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 105.4 miles on I-57, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is on high-speed roads, connecting segments on Cicero Avenue suggest a transition between major thoroughfares and local access. This drive prioritizes efficiency over varied scenery, presenting a characteristic Midwest highway profile.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 136.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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