Champaign Urbana Illinois Travel Guide

The twin cities of Champaign and Urbana are primarily known for being home to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign which swells the population of the area to over two hundred thousand. As with most college towns, the students drive much of the economy and there are numerous Urbana-Champaign IL hotels, restaurants and attractions for your entertainment while visiting.

The cities are situated roughly 140 miles south of Chicago, 180 miles northeast of St. Louis and 125 miles west of Indianapolis; they are located at the confluence of three major Interstate Highways, I-57, I-72 and I-74, making the area quite accessible by car. The University of Illinois-run Willard Airport (CMI) is served by American Eagle, with regional service to Chicago. However, many people select the larger Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI), about an hour away in Normal-Bloomington; AirTran, American Eagle and Delta offer more destination options. Amtrak is well-represented in the area as well. Once you arrive, you will find that Champaign and Urbana blend into one metropolitan area, easily navigated. The Mass Transit District (MTD) offers city bus service and has been awarded accolades for fine service. 

The University is the flagship campus for the University of Illinois, offering 17 programs of study including Medicine, Law, Business and Engineering to over 41,000 undergraduate and graduate students. You will find many things to do on the campus!  For sports fans, all major men’s and women’s sports are represented. The Fighting Illini Big Ten football games are played at historic Memorial Stadium, while the 17,000 seat Assembly Hall is home to basketball games, major concerts and other events.  Krannert Center for the Performing Arts offers over 300 theatre, dance and music performances every year to stimulate your cultural IQ. When on the South Quad, listen for the carillon bells of the 185-foot tall McFarland Memorial Bell Tower. Campustown is the moniker given to the Green Street area adjacent to the University, where you will find numerous restaurants, bars, shopping opportunities and an active nightlife.

But there is more to the Twin Cities than the University!  Are you fascinated by our universe? You must visit Staerkel Planetarium, which offers state-of-the-art equipment and a 50-foot dome. For the kiddos who love interactive, hands-on experiences, try Orpheum Children’s Science Museum where their brains will get stimulated while having fun. The little ones will really get a kick out of Prairie Farm, a turn-of-the-century replica farm with pigs, goats and cows, plus barns and a farmhouse for learning how farms used to operate in the good ole days.

Two wonderful art museums exist on the University’s campus: Krannert Art Museum, the second largest art museum in the State, and hundred-year-old Spurlock Museum, where you can see unique and rare artifacts from around the world. If you are lucky to be in town during the annual Roger Ebert Film Festival, you can be one of the first to see fine, independent films at the Historic Virginia Theater. During the rest of the year, look for a Ballet performance, concert or vintage movie at this venue, as its nearly a century old décor has been beautifully restored.

Want to spend some time outside? You are going to love this neck of the woods - literally! Lake of the Woods County Park offers 900 acres of outdoor activities, from fishing and boating to hiking and cross-country skiing. This is where you can listen to the carillon bells wafting on a soft breeze at the famous 6-story HI-Tower, browse deep in thought at Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens, ponder old-time artifacts at the Early American Museum or play a challenging round at Lake of the Woods Golf Course.

Did you ever expect to find so much to do here? You can read more about the Attractions below, and we have provided a number of Urbana-Champaign Illinois hotels near each, which makes it quite convenient to plan your visit. Whether you are coming to cheer for the Fighting Illini or are on Fortune 500 company business, get packing!