Road Trip: Cost of Driving from Champaign to East Chicago

Looking to hit the road and explore some new places? Why not take a trip from Champaign, Illinois to East Chicago, Indiana? This route offers beautiful scenery and plenty of things to see and do along the way. However, before hitting the road, it's essential to budget for the trip, starting with gas and toll prices. In this post, we'll break down the cost of driving from Champaign to East Chicago based on current gas prices.

Route 1: Via I-74 W and I-65 N

The fastest route from Champaign to East Chicago is via I-74 W and I-65 N. This route covers a distance of approximately 165 miles and will take around 2 hours and 45 minutes to cover. You'll encounter a couple of tolls on this route, including a $1.10 toll at the Danville Toll Plaza and a $4.65 toll at the Lowell Toll Plaza. As for gas prices, the current average price per gallon in Illinois is $3.05, while Indiana's average price is $2.90. Based on the average gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon, the total gas cost for this trip is approximately $26.00, bringing the total cost of travel on this route to around $32.00.

Route 2: Via I-57 S and I-80 E

Another route is via I-57 S and I-80 E, covering a distance of around 210 miles. This route will take about 3 hours and 30 minutes. You'll encounter a few tolls along the way, including $1.50 at the Kankakee Toll Plaza and $4.65 at the same Lowell Toll Plaza as in Route 1. As for gas prices, the current average price per gallon in Illinois is $3.05, while Indiana's average price is $2.90. Based on the average gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon, the total gas cost for this trip is approximately $35.00, bringing the total cost of travel on this route to around $44.00.

Route 3: Via US-45 S and US-41 S

Lastly, another route to consider is via US-45 S and US-41 S. This route covers a distance of around 195 miles and will take approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes to cover. You'll encounter no tolls on this route. Gas prices remain the same on this route as the previous two routes. The total gas cost for this trip is approximately $33.00, bringing the total cost of travel on this route to around $33.00.

In conclusion, the cheapest option for driving from Champaign to East Chicago is Route 3 via US-45 S and US-41 S, costing around $33.00 for gas and no tolls. Remember that gas prices can vary depending on the time of year and can even fluctuate weekly. It's always a good idea to check gas prices and toll fees before hitting the road to budget accurately. Safe travels!