Origin
Knoxville, IL
Late night in Knoxville on Saturday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
132.6 mi
213 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL covers 132.6 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Main Street, US 150, I 74 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.73 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.
Midpoint
66.3 miles from Knoxville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Champaign, IL
Full guide →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.
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 2h 4m. Total distance: 132.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 4m drive with frequent turns across 132.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Main Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL is easy. At 2h 4m 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 Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Main Street | — | — |
| US 150 | — | — |
| I 74 East | — | — |
| I 474 East | — | — |
| I 55 South | — | — |
| Neil Street | — | — |
| North Neil Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on North Market Street
128 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto US 150 / IL 97
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 150 / IL 97
4
Take the ramp right toward I 74 East: Peoria
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 74 East: Peoria
5
Merge slight left
32 mi
·
34 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 474 East: Indianapolis
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 474 East: Indianapolis
7
Merge slight left
14 mi
·
14 min
8
Merge slight left
27 mi
·
28 min
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
48 mi
·
51 min
·
I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
11
Take the exit slight right toward Neil Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Neil Street
12
Keep slight right to continue on Neil Street
141 ft
·
6 sec
·
Neil Street
13
Turn right onto North Neil Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Neil Street
14
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 66.3 miles from Knoxville, IL, or about 1h 2m 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 29 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.3 miles or 1h 2m 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 42m
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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, IL
This is one driving day of about 132.6 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Knoxville, 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 66.3 mi from Knoxville, IL · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.3 miles from Knoxville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.73 one way
$41.46 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.76 | $45.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.52 | $51.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.28 | $58.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.92 | $6.36 |
| Efficient EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.60 | $5.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53 | 0 | $18.56 | $8.49 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
Champaign, IL
Late night in Champaign on Saturday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Danvers, IL
66 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
1 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
2h 4m 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 Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL covers 132.6 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Main Street, US 150, I 74 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.3 miles from Knoxville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.73 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 Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL is easy. At 2h 4m 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 Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Knoxville, IL to Champaign, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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