How far is Champaign, IL from Benton, IL?

The driving distance from Champaign, IL to Benton, IL is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 150.9 miles (242.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
168.17 mi
03h 06m
Flight
150.89 mi
242.83 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Champaign.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
150.89 mi
Kilometers
242.83 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.17 mi
Kilometers
270.65 km
Drive Time
03h 06m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Benton
Thu, Apr 23, 12:01 PM CDT
Return by in Champaign
Thu, Apr 23, 3:07 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Champaign
2026-04-23T08:54
Arrive Benton
Thu, Apr 23, 12:01 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Champaign
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Watson
IL

Village in Illinois, USA

From Champaign
84.1 mi
01h 33m
To Benton
84 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 20 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Champaign and Benton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Champaign and Benton.

  1. 1

    Start on North Neil Street

    13 m · 6 sec · North Neil Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West University Avenue

    141 m · 17 sec · West University Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Randolph Street

    721 ft · 28 sec · North Randolph Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Church Street

    1.9 mi · 5 min · West Church Street

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57 South: Memphis

    1515 ft · 43 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    77.4 mi · 1 hr 23 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    20 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton

    1972 ft · 50 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout toward Public Square

    106 m · 6 sec · Public Square

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Public Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Champaign and Benton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
143 mi · 85%
Ken Gray Expressway
20 mi · 12%
West Church Street
3.23 mi · 2%
West Main Street
0.85 mi · 1%
IL 14
0.37 mi
North Randolph Street
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

77.4 mi · 01h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.2 mi
150.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watson
01h 33m from Champaign
Leave By
10:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Champaign and Sunny near Benton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Champaign to Benton?

The road trip is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km) and usually takes 03h 06m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Watson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.1 miles from Champaign and 84 miles from Benton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 150.9 miles (242.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.36 one way or $44.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Champaign and Sunny near Benton.

Stop Ideas Near Watson

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Watson, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Watson.

RAIL

Effingham

11 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Mattoon station

54 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Centralia station

74 mi away
108 East Broadway
BUS

Mt. Vernon, IL

86 mi away
102 Potomac Boulevard

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Champaign and Benton. Straight-line distance: 150.89 mi (242.83 km).

Champaign

#1 Champaign

The most populous city in Champaign County, Illinois.

Population89,390
Coordinates40.1164200, -88.2433800
Altitude225
CountryUnited States
Benton

#2 Benton

City in Illinois

Population6,784
Coordinates37.9967200, -88.9200700
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Start: Champaign (-88.24338, 40.11642)
End: Benton (-88.92007, 37.99672)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 271 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.93 gal
22.46 L · about $22.36
Round trip
$44.72
11.86 gal · 44.92 L
Estimated CO2
52.7 kg one way
Round trip: 105.4 kg / 232 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.36 $44.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.22 $50.44
Premium $4.65 $27.60 $55.20
Diesel $5.30 $31.45 $62.91

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Champaign and Benton. The current time is 08:54:43.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.