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Trip from Champaign, IL to Dale, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 33m

Distance

183.4 mi

295 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 21m ★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m

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

Downtown Dale, IL, IL

Dale, IL

Zülfü Demir📸

Trip Overview

The drive from Champaign, IL to Dale, IL covers 183.4 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West University Avenue, North Randolph Street, West Church Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.67 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

91.7 miles from Champaign, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West University Avenue
North Randolph Street
West Church Street
I 57 South
I 64 East
Belle Rive
Highway 17
Brehm Lane

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West University Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Neil Street

43 ft · 6 sec · North Neil Street
2

Turn right onto West University Avenue

463 ft · 17 sec · West University Avenue
3

Turn right onto North Randolph Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · North Randolph Street
4

Turn left onto West Church Street

1.9 mi · 4 min · West Church Street
5

Continue straight

1.3 mi · 1 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 57 South: Memphis

0.3 mi · 43 sec · I 57 South: Memphis
7

Merge slight left

77 mi · 1 hr 23 min
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 57 South: Memphis
9

Keep slight left to continue on I 64 East: Louisville

11 mi · 11 min · I 64 East: Louisville
10

Take the exit slight right toward Belle Rive, Bluford

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Belle Rive, Bluford
11

Turn right onto County Highway 17

0.1 mi · 15 sec · County Highway 17
12

Continue on Brehm Lane

2.2 mi · 3 min · Brehm Lane
13

Continue on North Main Street

0.4 mi · 46 sec · North Main Street
14

Turn left

12 mi · 17 min
15

Continue on County Road 6

3.8 mi · 5 min · County Road 6
16

Turn right onto South Washington Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · South Washington Street
17

Turn left onto East Randolph Street

446 ft · 10 sec · East Randolph Street
18

Turn right onto South Jackson Street

0.3 mi · 25 sec · South Jackson Street
19

Continue on County Road 1165 East

6.8 mi · 10 min · County Road 1165 East
20

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.7 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 46m into the drive.

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 40 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 91.7 miles or 1h 46m 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 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dale, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Champaign, 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 Champaign, IL

This is one driving day of about 183.4 miles and 3h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Champaign, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Brownstown, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brownstown, IL

92 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

Mattoon, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brownstown, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.7 miles from Champaign, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.67 one way

$57.34 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $31.48 $62.96
premium $4.89 $35.29 $70.59
diesel $5.61 $40.49 $80.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 64.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 55 0 $19.26 $8.80
Efficient EV 45.9 0 $16.05 $7.34
EV Truck/SUV 73.4 0 $25.68 $11.74

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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 15, 2026

Origin

Champaign, IL

Afternoon in Champaign on Saturday

Local time

2:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dale, IL

Afternoon in Dale on Saturday

Local time

2:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

75°F

Brownstown, IL

92 mi in

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

3 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

3h 33m 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?

183.4 mi in 3h 33m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West University Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Champaign, IL to Dale, IL is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Champaign, IL to Dale, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

About the Cities

Starting 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 3h 33m. Total distance: 183.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Champaign, IL to Dale, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Dale, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.

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