Champaign Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Champaign showing signage and heritage elements
Champaign showing signage
Spurlock Museum featuring signage
Champaign which includes outdoor art and wild flowers
Champaign

From barhopping to visiting museums, this college town and Silicon Prairie hub offers plenty to see and do.

Originally settled as farmland, the Champaign-Urbana area is now considered the hub of the “Silicon Prairie.” Champaign County features a main campus of the University of Illinois, established in 1857. The area has a large business presence, ranging from technology startups to Fortune 500 companies. Request a tour of the Blue Waters National Center for Supercomputing Applications to see powerful equipment operating at 13 quadrillion calculations per second while conducting important research.

Visit Center City Champaign’s three sections: downtown, midtown and campustown. The three-block downtown area has more than 40 bars, art galleries and boutique shopping along Neil Street. Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in the old Orpheum Theater hosts interactive exhibits and events such as “building fair” and “weekend wizards” programs. Watch independent or foreign films at the Art Theater. The restored Virginia Theater hosts special screenings, live performances and events.

In midtown, visit Champaign County Historical Museum in the restored Cattle Bank. Learn about more than 150 years of the area’s history through interactive exhibits, such as a model 19th-century dry goods store.

Enjoy the energetic atmosphere of Campustown. Visit Green Street and the surrounding area for fast food to fine dining. After dusk, Campustown buzzes with activity as students come out to enjoy the nightlife.

The Krannert Art Museum is part of the University of Illinois and houses impressive artworks from many different periods. Explore pre-Columbian art to contemporary photography. See a symphony, ballet or one of more than 300 performances annually at the Krannert Center of Performing Arts. Once every 2 years, ELLNORA: The Guitar Festival hosts amazing guitarists at the center.

Enjoy the outdoors at Allerton Park. Stroll through 14 formal gardens surrounding a Georgian mansion. Hike nearby along the Sangamon River and look for interesting sculptures. Head north to Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch to enjoy a corn maze in autumn or meet Santa’s reindeer.

Champaign is within easy driving distance of some of the Midwest’s biggest cities. In less than 3 hours, reach ChicagoOpens in a new window, IndianapolisOpens in a new window or St. LouisOpens in a new window.

Where to stay in Champaign

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North Champaign

While visiting North Champaign, you might make a stop by sights like Marketplace and Bonyark Creek Trail.

North Champaign
Hessel Park showing a garden

Clark

While visiting Clark, you might make a stop by sights like Hessel Park and Champaign Public Library.

Clark
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Bolten Field

While Bolten Field isn't home to many top sights, Hessel Park and University of Illinois Assembly Hall are some notable places to visit nearby.

Bolten Field
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Campustown

When in Campustown, you can plan a visit to Alma Mater and Illini Union Rec Room, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Campustown
Champaign showing street scenes as well as an individual female

Downtown

If you're spending some time in Downtown, The Virginia Theatre and Orpheum Children's Science Museum are top sights worth seeing.

Downtown
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Champaign Northwest

Champaign Northwest might not have many top sights, but Kaufman Lake and Tribute to Olympic and Paralympic Athletes are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Champaign Northwest
I Hotel And Illinois Conference Center

I Hotel And Illinois Conference Center

4 out of 5
1900 South First Street, Champaign, IL
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Champaign. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (1,681 reviews)
"Beautiful hotel. Only missed out on 5 stars due to the restaurant being closed and limited breakfast items."

Reviewed on 29 Jul. 2025

I Hotel And Illinois Conference Center
La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Champaign

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Champaign

3 out of 5
1900 Center Dr, Champaign, IL
The price is AU$143 per night from 14 Aug to 15 Aug
AU$143
14 Aug - 15 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Champaign. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,001 reviews)
"It was quiet"

Reviewed on 22 Jul. 2025

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Champaign
Drury Inn & Suites Champaign

Drury Inn & Suites Champaign

3 out of 5
905 W Anthony Dr, Champaign, IL
The price is AU$179 per night from 13 Aug to 14 Aug
AU$179
13 Aug - 14 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Champaign. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,018 reviews)
"The Drury rarely disappoints us. Staff was welcoming and when threat of a thunderstorm eminent, Liz came and warned us while at the pool and then said she would keep us updated. Thank you!"

Reviewed on 28 Jul. 2025

Drury Inn & Suites Champaign
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Cozy & comfortable, remodeled house. Stylishly decorated & close to everything!

Cozy & comfortable, remodeled house. Stylishly decorated & close to everything!

Champaign
Stay at this vacation home in Champaign. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Champaign County Historical Museum and Orpheum ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (7 reviews)
"House looks as if it was recently redone. The bed rooms are big and roomy. The house it self is fine. The rooms in front of the house gets all the traffic noise, on the weekend a lot of loud music in cars going by until late into the evening, which I understand is out of the home owners control. ..."

Reviewed on 9 Jun. 2025

Cozy & comfortable, remodeled house. Stylishly decorated & close to everything!
BIG House in the heart of Champaign. 6 blocks to campus. Game Room!

BIG House in the heart of Champaign. 6 blocks to campus. Game Room!

Champaign
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Champaign. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Champaign County Historical ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (7 reviews)
Great place for a large group
"We were in town for a baseball tournament. Had two families (5 people, 3 people). The basement was perfect for one family and the upstairs was perfect for the larger family. The property was clean. Good communication with the owner. Everything we needed was there including garbage bags, toilet paper, ..."

Reviewed on 27 Jul. 2025

BIG House in the heart of Champaign. 6 blocks to campus. Game Room!
Great neighborhood!  3 bed 2 full bath close to shopping, restaurants, U of I

Great neighborhood! 3 bed 2 full bath close to shopping, restaurants, U of I

Champaign
Stay at this vacation home in Champaign. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Sholem Aquatic Center and Hessel ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (70 reviews)
"We were very happy with Southwood House! Clean, well-maintained, and in a great location! Everything worked as it should, and check in/check out was a breeze! Karen, our host, was very kind and patient, and was super responsive! We would definitely stay here again, and highly recommend it (and Karen) ..."

Reviewed on 14 Jul. 2025

Great neighborhood! 3 bed 2 full bath close to shopping, restaurants, U of I
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit