Origin
Richmond, IL
Afternoon in Richmond on Friday
Local time
4:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, IL to Champaign, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 41m
Distance
226.1 mi
364 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, IL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Richmond, IL to Champaign, IL covers 226.1 miles and takes about 3h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, IL 53 South, I 290 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.57 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
113.1 miles from Richmond, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m 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 3h 41m. Total distance: 226.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m 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 3h 41m drive with frequent turns across 226.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richmond, IL to Champaign, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| IL 53 South | — | — |
| I 290 East | — | — |
| I 88 West | — | — |
| Tri-State Tollway | — | — |
| Mile-Long Bridge | — | — |
| IL 50 South | — | — |
| Cicero Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, IL and Champaign, IL.
1
Start on Broadway Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
4
Continue straight
1.1 mi
·
1 min
5
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
6
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
7
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
1 min
8
Continue straight
1.1 mi
·
1 min
9
Continue straight
14 mi
·
20 min
10
Take the ramp right toward IL 53 South
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
IL 53 South
11
Merge slight left
4.4 mi
·
5 min
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 290 East: Chicago
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
15
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
16
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
17
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
138 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
18
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
20
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
21
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
22
Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
23
Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
24
Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Cicero Avenue
25
Turn left onto 167th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
167th Street
26
Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
27
Merge slight left
105 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
28
Take the exit slight right toward Market Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Market Street
29
Turn left
95 ft
·
5 sec
30
Turn left onto Market Street
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Market Street
31
Turn right onto East Bradley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Bradley Avenue
32
Turn left onto North Neil Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Neil Street
33
Arrive at your destination
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 113.1 miles from Richmond, IL, or about 1h 50m 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 50 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.1 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 3h 1m
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 Richmond, 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 Richmond, IL
This is one driving day of about 226.1 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Richmond, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.1 mi from Richmond, IL · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.1 miles from Richmond, 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
$33.57 one way
$67.14 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $37.86 | $75.72 |
| premium | $4.65 | $41.43 | $82.86 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $47.21 | $94.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.74 | $10.85 |
| Efficient EV | 56.5 | 0 | $19.78 | $9.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.65 | $14.47 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Champaign on Friday
Local time
4:37 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
16 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
3h 41m 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 Richmond, IL to Champaign, IL covers 226.1 miles and takes about 3h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, IL 53 South, I 290 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.1 miles from Richmond, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.57 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richmond, IL to Champaign, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Richmond, 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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Champaign, IL
More from Richmond, IL
More trips to Champaign, IL
Explore more options from Richmond, IL or browse trips ending in Champaign, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.