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Trip from Chatham, IL to Champaign, IL

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 50m

Distance

95.2 mi

153 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 45m

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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Downtown Chatham, IL, IL

Chatham, IL

Quang Vuong

Trip Overview

This 95.2-mile drive from Chatham, IL to Champaign, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. With 94% of the journey on highways, it's a focused drive, making it ideal for a quick transfer between two Midwest locations within Illinois. The estimated fuel cost is around $15, a reasonable amount for this distance. Given its manageable length and efficient route, this trip is well-suited for a day excursion without the need for an overnight stay.

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

47.6 miles from Chatham, IL

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

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 94% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 88.3 miles along I-72, indicating a consistent pace for most of your journey. While the core of the drive is on the interstate, the route begins and ends with local roads, North Main Street and West University Avenue, providing a brief transition in and out of the main highway stretch.

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 72 is the longest continuous segment at about 88.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and North Main Street. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 72; US 36.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Chatham, IL to Champaign, IL is easy. At 1h 50m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (I 72; US 36): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 12.9 miles (I 72; US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
4.8 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 72; US 36

Merge onto I 72; US 36

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
12.9 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 72; US 36

Take the exit onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Decatur

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

Toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Decatur
4
95 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in | North Randolph Street

Turn left onto North Randolph Street

Navigation decision point

5
95.1 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in | West Park Avenue

Turn right onto West Park Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
95.1 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | North Neil Street

Turn right onto North Neil Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 72 88.3 mi 1h 36m
North Main Street 3 mi 5m
West University Avenue 1.9 mi 4m
South Veterans Parkway 1.2 mi 1m
West Park Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
North Randolph Street <0.1 mi <1m
North Neil Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 72 — 88.3 mi, about 1h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chatham, IL and Champaign, IL.

1

Start on IL 4

3.0 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2

Continue on IL 4

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Veterans Parkway
3

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
4

Merge onto I 72; US 36

8.1 mi · 9 min · I 72; US 36
5

Take the exit onto I 72; US 36

37 mi · 40 min · I 72; US 36
Toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Decatur
6

Continue on I 72; US 51

43 mi · 47 min · I 72; US 51
7

Continue on West University Avenue

1.9 mi · 4 min · West University Avenue
8

Turn left onto North Randolph Street

364 ft · 12 sec · North Randolph Street
9

Turn right onto West Park Avenue

458 ft · 15 sec · West Park Avenue
10

Turn right onto North Neil Street

320 ft · 10 sec · North Neil Street
11

Arrive at destination

North Neil Street

Trip Plan

With a total duration of under two hours, this drive offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps in the late morning to avoid early rush hour. Since there are no designated stops in the data, and it's a short trip, you can easily plan quick breaks as needed, perhaps stopping once around the halfway mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the longest stretch on I-72, as gas stations might be less frequent in some sections of this highway drive.

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 47.6 miles from Chatham, IL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.3 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47.6 miles or 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 1h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Champaign, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chatham, 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 Chatham, IL

This is one driving day of about 95.2 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chatham, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 72 for about 88.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.6 mi from Chatham, IL · 55m into the drive

city in Macon County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

48 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

Decatur, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Decatur, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.6 miles from Chatham, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 72 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.3 miles.

Arriving in Champaign, IL

The final approach into Champaign, 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 Champaign, IL.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

3 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 13.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.88 one way

$29.77 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.34 $32.68
premium $4.89 $18.32 $36.64
diesel $5.61 $21.02 $42.04

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: 33.3 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 28.6 0 $10.00 $4.57
Efficient EV 23.8 0 $8.33 $3.81
EV Truck/SUV 38.1 0 $13.33 $6.09

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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Chatham, IL

Night in Chatham on Tuesday

Local time

11:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Champaign, IL

Night in Champaign on Tuesday

Local time

11:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

1h 50m 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 Chatham, IL to Champaign, IL covers 95.2 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 72, North Main Street, West University Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.6 miles from Chatham, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.88 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 Chatham, IL to Champaign, IL is easy. At 1h 50m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (I 72; US 36): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 12.9 miles (I 72; US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95 miles (North Randolph Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Chatham, IL to Champaign, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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