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Trip from Champaign, IL to New Athens, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 51m

Distance

191.8 mi

309 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 39m ★
6 AM
3h 52m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 1m
12 PM
3h 58m
3 PM
4h 2m
5 PM
4h 16m
8 PM
3h 44m

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

Downtown New Athens, IL, IL

New Athens, IL

Snap Scribe

Trip Overview

The drive from Champaign, IL to New Athens, IL covers 191.8 miles and takes about 3h 51m 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 turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.99 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

95.9 miles from Champaign, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 191.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West University Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Champaign, IL to New Athens, IL is easy. At 3h 51m 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 New Athens, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West University Avenue
North Randolph Street
West Church Street
I 57 South
I 70 West
IL 4
Carlyle Avenue
North Green Mount Road

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 New Athens, 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 right to continue on I 70 West: Saint Louis

71 mi · 1 hr 16 min · I 70 West: Saint Louis
9

Take the exit slight right toward IL 4: Staunton, Lebanon

0.3 mi · 34 sec · IL 4: Staunton, Lebanon
10

Turn left

12 mi · 17 min
11

Continue straight

3.8 mi · 4 min
12

Turn left

4.5 mi · 6 min
13

Turn right onto Carlyle Avenue

2.5 mi · 3 min · Carlyle Avenue
14

Turn left onto North Green Mount Road

3.0 mi · 6 min · North Green Mount Road
15

Turn left

13 mi · 21 min
16

Turn left onto White Cabin Lodge Road

518 ft · 14 sec · White Cabin Lodge Road
17

Continue on South Van Buren Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · South Van Buren Street
18

Turn right onto South Benton Street

0.5 mi · 2 min · South Benton Street
19

Turn right onto Chester Street

62 ft · 3 sec · Chester Street
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 95.9 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 55m 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 42 miles or 50m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 95.9 miles or 1h 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Athens, 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 191.8 miles and 3h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 95.9 mi from Champaign, IL · 1h 55m into the drive

city in Clinton County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Carlyle, IL

96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Carlyle, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 95.9 miles from Champaign, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Athens, IL

The final approach into New Athens, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around New Athens, IL.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.99 one way

$59.97 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 67 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $32.92 $65.85
premium $4.89 $36.91 $73.82
diesel $5.61 $42.35 $84.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 57.5 0 $20.14 $9.21
Efficient EV 48 0 $16.78 $7.67
EV Truck/SUV 76.7 0 $26.85 $12.28

Gas CO2

67 kg

EV CO2

22 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

Late night in Champaign on Thursday

Local time

12:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Athens, IL

Late night in New Athens on Thursday

Local time

12:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°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

4 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 51m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Champaign, IL to New Athens, IL covers 191.8 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West University Avenue, North Randolph Street, West Church Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.9 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 $29.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 New Athens, IL is easy. At 3h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Champaign, IL to New Athens, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Champaign, IL to New Athens, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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