How far is Highwood, IL from Champaign, IL?

The driving distance from Highwood, IL to Champaign, IL is about 169.3 miles (272.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 145.7 miles (234.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
169.28 mi
02h 43m
Flight
145.71 mi
234.49 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Highwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
145.71 mi
Kilometers
234.49 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
169.28 mi
Kilometers
272.43 km
Drive Time
02h 43m

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 02h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Champaign
Sun, Apr 19, 12:29 PM CDT
Return by in Highwood
Sun, Apr 19, 3:12 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Highwood
2026-04-19T09:46
Arrive Champaign
Sun, Apr 19, 12:29 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:43 AM to 12:43 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Highwood
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Bourbonnais
IL

Human settlement in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States of America

From Highwood
80.8 mi
01h 21m
To Champaign
88.5 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Prairie Avenue

    71 m · 9 sec · Prairie Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Green Bay Road

    3103 ft · 1 min · Green Bay Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Green Bay Road

    2785 ft · 1 min · Green Bay Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Central Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Deerfield Road

    639 ft · 13 sec · Deerfield Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Deerfield Road

    932 ft · 19 sec · Deerfield Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 41 South: Skokie Valley Road

    1097 ft · 27 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Skokie Highway

    3.2 mi · 3 min · Skokie Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.7 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.1 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    117.8 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Market Street

    1379 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    29 m · 5 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Market Street

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Market Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Bradley Avenue

    1333 ft · 34 sec · East Bradley Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North Neil Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · North Neil Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Neil Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
118 mi · 70%
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 8%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 5%
Kennedy Expressway
8.12 mi · 5%
Market Street
4.17 mi · 2%
Skokie Highway
3.16 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

118 mi · 02h 11m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.6 mi
145.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bourbonnais
01h 21m from Highwood
Leave By
1:04 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers leaving Highwood and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny near Champaign.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 169.3 miles (272.4 km) and usually takes 02h 43m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bourbonnais is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80.8 miles from Highwood and 88.5 miles from Champaign.

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

The direct path is about 145.7 miles (234.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:04 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.51 one way or $45.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers around Highwood and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny near Champaign.

Stop Ideas Near Bourbonnais

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

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

RAIL

Kankakee

4 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Gilman

44 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

44 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Dwight station

46 mi away
119 West Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Highwood and Champaign. Straight-line distance: 145.71 mi (234.49 km).

Highwood

#1 Highwood

City in Illinois

Population5,301
Coordinates42.1997500, -87.8092300
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Champaign

#2 Champaign

The most populous city in Champaign County, Illinois.

Population89,390
Coordinates40.1164200, -88.2433800
Altitude225
CountryUnited States
Start: Prairie Avenue (-87.80923, 42.199767)
End: North Neil Street (-88.243515, 40.11642)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 272 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.97 gal
22.61 L · about $22.51
Round trip
$45.03
11.94 gal · 45.22 L
Estimated CO2
53.1 kg one way
Round trip: 106.1 kg / 234 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.51 $45.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.39 $50.78
Premium $4.65 $27.78 $55.57
Diesel $5.30 $31.66 $63.33

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 Highwood and Champaign. The current time is 09:46:16.

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.