How far is Champaign, IL from East Saint Louis, IL?

The driving distance from Champaign, IL to East Saint Louis, IL is about 176.3 miles (283.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144.9 miles (233.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 34m 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
176.36 mi
03h 17m
Flight
144.93 mi
233.24 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
144.93 mi
Kilometers
233.24 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
176.36 mi
Kilometers
283.82 km
Drive Time
03h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in East Saint Louis
Sun, Apr 19, 4:17 AM CDT
Return by in Champaign
Sun, Apr 19, 7:34 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Champaign
2026-04-19T00:59
Arrive East Saint Louis
Sun, Apr 19, 4:17 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 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
10:26 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
Altamont
IL

City in Effingham County, Illinois, United States

From Champaign
88.1 mi
01h 38m
To East Saint Louis
88.2 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph WNW
Destination
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Champaign and East Saint Louis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Champaign and East Saint Louis.

  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 right to continue on I 70 West: Saint Louis

    76.8 mi · 1 hr 23 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South, I 70 West: Saint Louis

    16.8 mi · 20 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West: Kansas City

    76 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Exchange Avenue

    1104 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Exchange Avenue

    1024 ft · 30 sec · Exchange Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North 9th Street

    802 ft · 15 sec · North 9th Street

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North 9th Street

    36 m · 2 sec · North 9th Street

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto North 9th Street

    594 ft · 11 sec · North 9th Street

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North 9th Street

    39 m · 2 sec · North 9th Street

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto North 9th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · North 9th Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Saint Louis Avenue

    112 m · 16 sec · Saint Louis Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North 10th Street

    585 ft · 10 sec · North 10th Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 10th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Champaign and East Saint Louis.

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
20 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
77.7 mi · 44%
I 70 West
76.9 mi · 44%
I 55 South
16.8 mi · 10%
West Church Street
3.23 mi · 2%
North 9th Street
1 mi · 1%
Exchange Avenue
0.4 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 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.4 mi
144.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Altamont
01h 38m from Champaign
Leave By
10:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny leaving Champaign and Sunny near East Saint Louis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Champaign to East Saint Louis?

The road trip is about 176.3 miles (283.8 km) and usually takes 03h 17m 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?

Altamont is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.1 miles from Champaign and 88.2 miles from East Saint Louis.

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

The direct path is about 144.9 miles (233.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.4 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 10:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.46 one way or $46.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny around Champaign and Sunny near East Saint Louis.

Stop Ideas Near Altamont

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Altamont, 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 Altamont.

RAIL

Effingham

19 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Mattoon station

57 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Centralia station

68 mi away
108 East Broadway
BUS

Mt. Vernon, IL

85 mi away
102 Potomac Boulevard

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Champaign and East Saint Louis. Straight-line distance: 144.93 mi (233.24 km).

Champaign

#1 Champaign

The most populous city in Champaign County, Illinois.

Population89,390
Coordinates40.1164200, -88.2433800
Altitude225
CountryUnited States
East Saint Louis

#2 East Saint Louis

City in St.

Population25,776
Coordinates38.6245000, -90.1509400
Altitude127
CountryUnited States
Start: Champaign (-88.24338, 40.11642)
End: East Saint Louis (-90.15094, 38.6245)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 284 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.22 gal
23.56 L · about $23.46
Round trip
$46.91
12.44 gal · 47.12 L
Estimated CO2
55.3 kg one way
Round trip: 110.6 kg / 244 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.46 $46.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.45 $52.91
Premium $4.65 $28.95 $57.90
Diesel $5.30 $32.99 $65.98

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Champaign and East Saint Louis. The current time is 00:59:56.

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.