The drive from Champaign, IL to Mount Vernon, IL covers 146.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Broadway Street, West Church Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.1 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.97 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
73.5 miles from Champaign, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
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
This is a 2h 44m highway drive covering 146.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Broadway Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 140.1 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 140.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Broadway Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West University Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Champaign, IL to Mount Vernon, IL is easy. At 2h 44m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Church Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West University Avenue
Turn right onto West University Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Randolph Street
Turn right onto North Randolph Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West Church Street
Turn left onto West Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 57 South: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 182A
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
140.1 mi
2h 30m
Broadway Street
2.8 mi
5m
West Church Street
1.9 mi
4m
I 72
1.3 mi
1m
North Randolph Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West University Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Neil Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 140.1 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Champaign, IL and Mount Vernon, IL.
1
Start on North Neil Street
42 ft·5 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·27 sec·North Randolph Street
4
Turn left onto West Church Street
1.9 mi·4 min·West Church Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on I 72
1.3 mi·1 min·I 72
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 182AToward I 57 South: Memphis
7
Merge onto I 57
77 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 57
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward IL 15: Ashley, Mt. Vernon
10
Turn straight onto IL 15
2.8 mi·5 min·Broadway Street
11
Arrive at destination
IL 15
Trip Plan
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 73.5 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.1 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.5 miles or 1h 23m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Vernon, 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 146.9 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 140.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.5 mi from Champaign, IL
· 1h 23m into the drive
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$20 to $30
mile 73.5
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.97 one way
$45.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.22
$50.43
premium
$4.89
$28.27
$56.54
diesel
$5.61
$32.43
$64.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.1
0
$15.42
$7.05
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.88
EV Truck/SUV
58.8
0
$20.57
$9.40
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Champaign, IL
Morning
in Champaign on Saturday
Local time
10:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph90% chanceLive forecast
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
Destination
Mount Vernon, IL
Morning
in Mount Vernon on Saturday
Local time
10:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 6 to 12 mph87% chanceLive forecast
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
53°F
Altamont, IL
73 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
2 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 44m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Champaign, IL to Mount Vernon, IL covers 146.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Broadway Street, West Church Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.5 miles from Champaign, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.97 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Champaign, IL to Mount Vernon, IL is easy. At 2h 44m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Church Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Champaign, IL to Mount Vernon, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
