From Wikitravel

Champaign-Urbana is a "twin city" in central Illinois, comprised, reasonably enough, of the two towns of Champaign and Urbana. The community is the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois, one of the great public universities of the United States.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By plane 1.2 By train 1.3 By car 1.4 By bus 2 Get around 2.1 By bus 3 See 4 Buy 5 Eat 5.1 Budget 5.2 Splurge 6 Drink 7 Sleep 8 Get out

Get in

By plane

A regional airport, Willard Airport (airport code:CMI), is conveniently located roughly 15 minutes away from the main part of town. The airport is served by a local bus service (C-U Mass Transit District Bus No. 27).

The nearest major airports are in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Saint Louis.

By train

Champaign-Urbana is on the Amtrak system, and is served by two regularly-scheduled train routes, the 58/59 City of New Orleans, which runs between Chicago, Illinois and New Orleans, Louisiana, and the 391/392 Illini, which runs between Chicago, Illinois and Carbondale, Illinois. The train is an excellent option for traveling between Champaign-Urbana and downtown Chicago. Amtrak, the commercial bus likes (such as Greyhound) and the municipal bus system all arrive and depart from Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign.

By car

Interstate 74 runs east-west. 120 miles east is Indianapolis and to the west is the town of Peoria. Interstate 57 runs north to Chicago.

By bus

Greyhound lines runs frequently between Chicago and Champaign-Urbana. Another company offering bus service from Chicago (including the suburbs) and Urbana is Suburban Express. You should expect to pay around $20 for a one-way fare. Local company Lincolnland Express runs more frequently, but they are often VERY late.

Be advised that you may be embarking on a bus on busy runs (e.g. Friday night) a minibus or even a minivan. You should expect possible transfers in the parking lot of a small town mall. Know where you're going and ask questions so you don't miss your transfers. As noted above, commercial buses, trains, and the city bus all arrive and depart at Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign.

Get around

By bus

Champaign-Urbana has a good municipal bus system, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. The fare for the city routes is $1.00 (free with a University of Illinois ID card). On-campus routes are free for everyone, including visitors. Major routes run well past midnight during the academic year, and until midnight (or so) during school holidays. In addition to providing service to Champaign and Urbana, the bus also serves some outlying areas, such as the village of Savoy. Buses on most routes run on a thirty minute schedule.

See

Volition, Inc. is a video game developer located at 1 Main in Champaign. Makers of Red Faction, the Punisher and Saints Row.

The 1921 Virginia Theatre is home to the annual Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival and is also used for monthly film series, live concerts, and theatre. It retains its original Wurlitzer pipe organ, which is played before many of the shows.

Boardman's Art Theatre is just two blocks from the Virginia and shows first-run art, independent, documentary, and other films daily.

Buy

Eat

• The Ribeye 701 S Neil St, Champaign. Steak and salad bar that locals love.
• Papa Del's 206 E. Green St, Champaign. A local take on Chicago-style pizza.

Budget

• Lil' Porgies BBQ Incredibly good 'cause it's cooked on wood.
• Peking Garden Chinese, good whole steamed fish as well as their shrimp with lobster sauce.
• Red Herring Vegetarian, quirky place across the street from Roger Adams Lab. Awesome soups served with fresh bread.
• Espresso Royale Coffee, across the street from the CLS building.
• Za's Italian Cafe A student favorite.
• Golden Wok Thai, Laos, and Chinese food.
• La Bamba's Burritos as big as your head
• The Apple Dumplin' Family Dining 2014 North Highcross Road Urbana, IL 61802. Great local American diner. Don't miss the biscuits 'n gravy and, of course, the famous Apple Dumplin'.

Splurge

• Radio Maria, a good selection of international themed dishes. Their sunday brunch is a local favorite.

Drink

• Legends Bar and Grill
• Murphy's Pub
• Brothers

All three are decent campus type bars. Murphy's and Legends are the sports bar types while Brothers has more of a dancing atmosphere to it. Brothers has dollar drafts on thursdays and Legends has dollar bottles on Wednesday.

For a more upscale atmosphere, try downtown Champaign:

• Esquire
• Cafe Kopi
• The Blind Pig
• Aroma Cafe Located on Neil St, near Main. Good range of coffee drinks served by nice people

For a larger range of beer selection try

• Crane Alley

Sleep

• Comfort Inn Champaign Hotel 305 Market View Dr. (217) 352-4055. A friendly hotel that combines comfort with great value for money for both business and leisure travelers. Warm hospitality, professional service at one of the most convenient locations in Champaign.
• Econo Lodge Inn Suites Champaign Hotel 914 W. Bloomington Rd. (217) 356-6000. Affordable accommodations in the Champaign / Urbana market that will also give you a quiet, relaxing and comfortable setting. Secure Online Reservations.
• Sleep Inn Urbana Hotel 1908 N. Lincoln Ave. (217) 367-6000. Conveniently located on Lincoln Avenue, right off Interstate 74, exit 183. The Sleep Inn is close to the University of Illinois, Carle Medical Center, the Champaign County Fairgrounds, and Market Place Mall.

Get out

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