Travel

Urbana-Champaign is located two to three hours from four major airports: Chicago Midway, O’Hare, Indianapolis, and St. Louis Lambert. Besides rental cars, all of these airports are serviced by Amtrak. The Chicago airports are also on the daily route of our local bus company, Peoria Charter.

Willard Field is the local regional airport. It offers direct flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare.

A block of rooms is reserved at the Comfort Suites Urbana Champaign. Guests must call and mention our names in order to receive the discounted rate, as it is not available online. The front desk can be reached at (217) 328-3500. Reservations must be made by September 20, 2024.

Visit campus to learn a little bit more about local history. Highlights include the Morrow Plots, the oldest experimental field in America, and historical markers explaining the research landmarks in fields such as physics, computer science, biology, and crop sciences. You can also meet our new friend the mammoth, learn about the invention of fMRI at the Beckman Institute, or visit the Plant Sciences Conservatory.

Take a walk in one of the local parks. We especially like the prairie restoration and sculpture garden at Meadowbrook Park and the boardwalk at Busey Woods. For those looking for an adventure further afield, you may enjoy the formal gardens and natural areas at Allerton Park.

For children or the young at heart, we recommend the Anita Purves Nature Center and Curtis Orchard. For a slightly longer trip, you can check out the Museum of the Grand Prairie about 20 minutes outside of town.

If you’re looking for a quick bite, we recommend Cafe Kopi or Espresso Royale, or the treats at Rick's Bakery. Try a huarache at Huaraches Moroleon, or one of many options at Wszalek family-favorite Fiesta Cafe. Sample the award-winning barbecue at Black Dog, or the many delights at Koh-i-Noor Indian Restaurant. For a heart breakfast, try Courier Cafe or Le Peep.