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Trip from Champaign, IL to Elmwood, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 16m

Distance

120.5 mi

194 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 7m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m

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

city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States

Elmwood, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Champaign, IL to Elmwood, IL covers 120.5 miles and takes about 2h 16m 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 Bradley Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.84 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

60.2 miles from Champaign, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 16m drive with frequent turns across 120.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 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 Elmwood, IL is easy. At 2h 16m 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 Elmwood, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West University Avenue
North Randolph Street
West Bradley Avenue
Bloomington Road
North Prospect Avenue
I 74 West
I 474 West
Canton

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 Elmwood, 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

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Randolph Street
4

At the end of the road, turn left onto West Bradley Avenue

459 ft · 13 sec · West Bradley Avenue
5

Turn slight right onto Bloomington Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bloomington Road
6

Turn right onto North Prospect Avenue

0.3 mi · 39 sec · North Prospect Avenue
7

Take the ramp left toward I 74 West: Bloomington

0.3 mi · 40 sec · I 74 West: Bloomington
8

Merge slight left

53 mi · 56 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West: Peoria

28 mi · 30 min · I 74 West: Peoria
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island

14 mi · 14 min · I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
11

Take the exit slight left toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
12

Merge slight right

15 mi · 15 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward Canton, Kewanee

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Canton, Kewanee
14

At the end of the road, turn left onto North Bell School Road

0.6 mi · 57 sec · North Bell School Road
15

Turn right onto West Tucker Road

2.0 mi · 2 min · West Tucker Road
16

Turn left

4.5 mi · 7 min
17

Turn right onto West Main Street

98 ft · 3 sec · West Main Street
18

Arrive at your destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 8m 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 27 miles or 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmwood, 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 120.5 miles and 2h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Champaign, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 60.2 mi from Champaign, IL · 1h 8m into the drive

Downtown Normal, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Normal, IL

60 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

Empire, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.2 miles from Champaign, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Elmwood, IL

The final approach into Elmwood, 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 Elmwood, 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

$18.84 one way

$37.68 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.68 $41.37
premium $4.89 $23.19 $46.38
diesel $5.61 $26.60 $53.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.2 0 $12.65 $5.78
Efficient EV 30.1 0 $10.54 $4.82
EV Truck/SUV 48.2 0 $16.87 $7.71

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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

Evening in Champaign on Wednesday

Local time

8:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elmwood, IL

Evening in Elmwood on Wednesday

Local time

8:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 16m 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 Elmwood, IL covers 120.5 miles and takes about 2h 16m 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 Bradley Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.2 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 $18.84 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.
The drive from Champaign, IL to Elmwood, IL is easy. At 2h 16m 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 Elmwood, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Champaign, IL to Elmwood, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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