Origin
Champaign, IL
Night in Champaign on Wednesday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Champaign, IL to Pekin, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
93.7 mi
151 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pekin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 93.7-mile drive from Champaign, IL to Pekin, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it’s an economical option for a quick journey. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, making it a no-fuss option for getting from point A to point B. You'll primarily be on I-74 and I-474, with a brief stretch on Radio City Drive to reach your destination. Given its efficient nature and focus on major roads, this trip is ideal for those prioritizing direct travel within the Midwest.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Champaign, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 92% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 81 miles along I-74, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While the majority is interstate, the final segment on Radio City Drive may offer a slight change of pace as you approach Pekin. This route is designed for efficiency, so think smooth sailing on well-maintained highways for most of your time behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 81 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 474. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West University Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (West Bradley Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese 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
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Bradley Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto West Bradley Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Bloomington
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
7
83.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
I 474
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474 toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
88.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Champaign, IL and Pekin, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Peoria.
Rock Island
83.1 mi in
|
~1h 32m
|
via I 474
Peoria
88.2 mi in
|
~1h 38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 81 mi | 1h 27m |
| I 474 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Radio City Drive | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| North Randolph Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Bloomington Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 8th Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Prospect Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 81 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Champaign, IL and Pekin, 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
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Randolph Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto West Bradley Avenue
458 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Bradley Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right onto Bloomington Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bloomington Road
6
Turn right onto US 150
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Prospect Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 74
53 mi
·
56 min
·
I 74
9
Take the exit onto I 74
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 474
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria
12
Turn left onto IL 29
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
South Main Street
13
Continue on IL 29
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Radio City Drive
14
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 29
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Radio City Drive
15
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
North 8th Street
16
Continue on IL 29
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
North 5th Street
17
Turn left onto Margaret Street
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Margaret Street
18
Continue on Court Street
470 ft
·
15 sec
·
Court Street
19
Turn left onto South 8th Street
223 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 8th Street
20
Arrive at destination
South 8th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 47-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart anytime without needing to worry about breaking up the drive. Since it’s a 93.7-mile journey with a fuel cost around $15, it’s wise to ensure you have enough gas before departing Champaign, as there are no designated stops mentioned along this specific route data. Plan to leave when it’s most convenient for you, as the highway-focused nature means minimal traffic concerns and a predictable travel time.
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 46.9 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 53m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pekin, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Champaign, IL
This is one driving day of about 93.7 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Champaign, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 81 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.9 mi from Champaign, IL · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Champaign, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 74 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81 miles.
Arriving in Pekin, IL
The final approach into Pekin, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.65 one way
$29.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.08 | $32.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.03 | $36.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.69 | $41.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
| Efficient EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.12 | $6.00 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Pekin, IL
Night in Pekin on Wednesday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 47m 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 Pekin, IL covers 93.7 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, I 474, Radio City Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.9 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 $14.65 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (West Bradley Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Champaign, IL and Pekin, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Peoria.
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