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Trip from Champaign, IL to Riley, IL

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

Drive Time

3h 42m

Distance

200.3 mi

322 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 29m ★
6 AM
3h 42m
8 AM
4h 7m
10 AM
3h 51m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 52m
5 PM
4h 6m
8 PM
3h 34m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Trip Overview

The drive from Champaign, IL to Riley, IL covers 200.3 miles and takes about 3h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 51, I 74, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.7 miles on US 51. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.31 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

100.1 miles from Champaign, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 51 120.7 mi 2h 9m
I 74 52.6 mi 56m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 18.5 mi 19m
I 39 2.9 mi 3m
I 55 0.9 mi <1m
Harmony Road 0.8 mi 1m
North Randolph Street 0.8 mi 2m
Bloomington Road 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 51 — 120.7 mi, about 2h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Champaign, IL and Riley, 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

Continue on I 55; US 51

0.9 mi · 58 sec · I 55; US 51
10

Take the exit onto US 51

121 mi · 2 hr 9 min · US 51
Exit 164 Toward I 39 North: Rockford Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 39; US 20; US 51

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 39; US 20; US 51
12

Continue on I 39; US 51

0.6 mi · 41 sec · I 39; US 51
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
14

Merge onto I 90

18 mi · 19 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 36 Toward IL 23: Marengo, Harvard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn right onto IL 23

0.3 mi · 28 sec · IL 23
17

Enter roundabout onto IL 23

93 ft · 1 sec · South State Street
18

Continue on IL 23

0.2 mi · 17 sec · South State Street
19

Enter roundabout onto A49

222 ft · 3 sec · Harmony Road
20

Continue on A49

0.7 mi · 1 min · Harmony Road
21

Turn right onto Riley Road

0.6 mi · 2 min · Riley Road
22

Arrive at destination

Riley Road

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 100.1 miles from Champaign, IL, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.7 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 44 miles or 50m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.1 miles or 1h 50m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riley, 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 200.3 miles and 3h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 US 51 for about 120.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Woodford County, Illinois

Mid-route town

Meal stop

El Paso, IL

100 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

Bloomington, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Custer, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.1 miles from Champaign, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 51 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.7 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Urbana, Illinois

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

+12173672340

Visit website

Basil Thai At Urbana

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Urbana, Illinois

1.3 mi

El Rey Del Taco Mendota

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mendota, Illinois

3 mi

Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Urbana, Illinois

+12173672340

Visit website

Basil Thai At Urbana

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Urbana, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12173448662

Visit website

El Rey Del Taco Mendota

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 128.7

Mendota, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+18155397100

Grubsteakers Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 157.4

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18155623430

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Champaign, Illinois

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 57.2

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12175312800

Visit website

Rivian Waypoints

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 57.2

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887484261

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

+18668167584

Rivian Adventure Network

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 57.2

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887484273

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 57.2

Normal, Illinois

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 198.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
55.6 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | US 51

Take the exit onto US 51 toward I 39 North: Rockford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 164 Toward I 39 North: Rockford
8
198.1 mi into trip | ~3h 36m in

Take the exit toward IL 23: Marengo, Harvard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 36 Toward IL 23: Marengo, Harvard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.31 one way

$62.63 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $34.38 $68.76
premium $4.89 $38.55 $77.09
diesel $5.61 $44.22 $88.45

Estimated Tolls: $1.29

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (18.5 mi) $1.29

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.1 0 $21.03 $9.61
Efficient EV 50.1 0 $17.53 $8.01
EV Truck/SUV 80.1 1 $28.04 $12.82

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 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 17, 2026

Origin

Champaign, IL

Afternoon in Champaign on Saturday

Local time

3:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Mostly Clear

S 6 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Riley, IL

Afternoon in Riley on Saturday

Local time

3:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

El Paso, IL

100 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

13 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 42m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

200.3 mi in 3h 42m, mostly highway — 120.7 mi of that is on US 51.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.7 mi on US 51.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 51 and I 74. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West University Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 200.3 miles you will encounter 14 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.

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 42m. Total distance: 200.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 120.7 miles on US 51. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.29 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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.

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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Riley, 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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