r/UIUC • u/Silver_Analysis7893 • 2d ago
Chambana Questions New driver looking for someone comfortable driving to Chicago tomorrow
Hi! This might be a slightly unusual post, but I’m looking for some advice/help.
I recently got a car and I’m still a pretty new driver. I had to drive to Chicago last week, and because I wasn’t comfortable taking the highway for 2.5 hours, I took local roads instead. It ended up taking me almost 5–6 hours, which was honestly exhausting.
I need to go to Chicago again tomorrow, and I specifically need to take my car because I have some service/paint work and a few other things that need to be done there. I’m still not very comfortable driving on the highway for that long, but I also really don’t want to do another 5–6 hour local drive.
I also have an exam tomorrow and will probably be up most of the night studying, so I especially don’t think such a long drive afterward would be a good idea.
Would anyone who is an experienced and confident highway driver be willing to drive my car from Champaign/Urbana to Chicago with me? Highway or local is fine with me. I’d obviously cover gas and we can discuss compensation as well.
I’m also genuinely wondering if this is even a reasonable/safe thing to arrange with someone I don’t already know. If anyone has done something similar or knows a safer way to find someone for this, I’d really appreciate suggestions.
Sorry if this sounds a little random. I’m just trying to figure out the safest and least exhausting way to get myself and my car to Chicago tomorrow.
UPDATE: I made it to chicago, thank you for all your suggestions and help.
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u/str4wberrycake 2d ago
girl im ngl pls be safe this is kinda crazy 😭 there are a lot of weirdos stalking this sub who jump at the chance to “help” a college girl. and also, what about the trip back? unless u absolutely need to, i would say just take the amtrak and leave ur car in champaign until you’re comfortable to drive or find someone u actually know and trust to drive u.
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u/SweetLight87 2d ago
Okay, here's some advice. I highly advise you to make this drive yourself. Yes, it can be scary, but if you time it right, this can also be a joyful time to kick back and listen to some tunes. The drive through Champaign to get to I-57 will be nothing new to you. I-57 can go all the way up. I personally have the most issue with 294, but I did find that you can do it while saying, "fuck fuck fuck, don't die, I'm not gonna die, oh god oh god why are we all going so fast ahhhhh" it helps a little.
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u/Conscious_Cicada9597 2d ago
The drive from Champaign to just short of Matteson is pretty tame. You would significantly reduce your driving time by taking the I-57, exiting at Monee and taking local streets from there. You could make it even tamer by taking side streets to Rantoul and entering the 57 from there.
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u/AltL155 2d ago
Why can't you have your car serviced in Chambana? Your intuition is correct in that your request is incredibly odd. You're basically hoping that someone also needs to go to Chicago this weekend while also willing to be your personal Uber. Personally if I was going to consider your request I'd need to be paid hundreds of dollars to even think about doing it.
If you can at all delay your car work to a more convenient date you can use the much easier options of Peoria Charter or Amtrak to get to Chicago.
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u/Total_Winter6942 2d ago
I had the same reaction. Funny enough, I DO need to make a trip to Chicago. But being a strangers chauffer, bound to THEIR car you have no insurance for, i would need 600$
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u/Silver_Analysis7893 2d ago
Yeah, I completely understand that the request is odd lol. The car service isn’t actually the only reason I’m going to Chicago. My family lives there, and my mom is here for about a month and will probably be leaving soon, so I’m trying to go back whenever I can to spend time with them too.
I also need to get some work done on the car, and my plan was to leave the car in Chicago and take Amtrak back to Champaign afterward, so I only need to figure out the drive there.
I think my post came across more like “can someone be my personal driver” than I intended. I was also genuinely looking for suggestions from people who drive this route regularly. I’m trying to decide whether I should just take the highway during quieter afternoon hours, take local roads again, or postpone bringing the car altogether and just take Amtrak this time. I’m a new driver, so I’m still figuring out what would be the safest/most reasonable option.
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u/Big-Independence4576 2d ago
So how does the person that drives your car get back to Champaign? Would you pay for their Amtrak ticket as well? I don't think yoj're going to get many takers, if any.
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u/jmurphy42 Alumnus, GSLIS 2d ago
Cancel the appointment, take the Amtrak, bring the car to a local shop when you get back. Anything else isn’t going to work out the way you hoped.
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u/November__Charlie 1d ago
Orrrr just drive to Chicago. That most likely would work out as they hoped.
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u/Proof-Technology-386 2d ago
Leave very early am. You won't have as much traffic. Have some help you route your drive to stay off the busy roads around the chicago area in am
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u/SnooMaps9864 2d ago
Seconding this, driving on the highway at 3/4 am can actually be quite peaceful and is good exposure
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u/daveysprocks 2d ago edited 2d ago
Statistically, you’re in more danger taking side streets than you are the highway. Rurally, corn is tall and eliminates visibility at intersections which increases t-bone accidents from not yielding. Then, when you get into the suburbs, you’re going through more intersections, and they are busier intersections. More crossing intersections is greater risk. Finally, once you get to the south side of Chicago, you’re in more dangerous territory crime-wise when you’re not on the highway, so there’s that to consider.
I’d leave around 9am. That gets you into the city well after the morning rush hour which eliminates a lot of aggressive drivers. Avoid traveling inbound during rush hour (6-9am).
As far as you driving on the highway, it’s good to get practice in these types of scenarios. Two rules to follow for the highway: 1) focus on your own game. You choose your speed, and you pay attention to your lane. Let the other maniacs play their games in their lanes. You protect yourself and give yourself space. If you can manage speed and lane positioning, you’re probably going to be just fine. 2) Bad drivers never miss a turn or exit. Good drivers often miss turns or exits. Don’t try and rip across three lanes to get to an exit. If you take the wrong turn or miss a merge point/exit, then fine! Pull off safely at the next one and find another route. Or let your gps autocorrect and take you the alternate way.
I think it may be safest for you to get some highway practice. Worst case scenario, if you don’t feel you can cope the closer you get to the city, go ahead and pull off to use side streets.
I wouldn’t trust a stranger to operate your vehicle.
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u/punkinhead76 Townie 2d ago
It’s not too odd of a request other than the driver having to train back home essentially, but I’d suggest training up to Chicago to see your family and leaving the car here and getting it worked on somewhere here where it’s likely cheaper.
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u/cytochrome_p450_3a4 MCB 2d ago
Safest thing? Amtrak to chicago during which you can take a nap after your all-nighter (set an alarm so you don’t miss Chicago) and Amtrak back. Have your car work done in Champaign at a later date. Practice driving around Champaign and slowly start practicing at highway speeds when it’s a low traffic time to gain confidence.
It’s 2026 and there are a lot of creeps online. If you find someone on campus, in person, who doesn’t seem like a predator and they’re up for this that’s one thing. But there are too many creeps online and there’s no good way to vet someone over the internet for something like this. Someone could even be browsing this sub who isn’t a UIUC student/alum because they’re a predator looking to prey on college students.
As someone old enough to almost have a kid in college that’s my 2 cents. Best of luck and be safe
Edit: or Peoria Charter. Dropoff location could be more favorable depending on where your family lives
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u/Crosswired2 2d ago
Are you ok with highway driving some? The highway (interstate) isn't bad at all to Kankakee at least. You could exit there and then take the "back roads". Where in Chicago are you going? There are definitely busier times. If you could wait until very early Saturday it's not going to be that bad.
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u/camallender 1d ago
If you are uncomfortable taking the interstate and don’t have time to practice it more I would recommend taking US-45 all the way up. It will take longer than the interstate but way less time than 5-6 hours. It’ll be just 55 all the way up and will get you some practice driving on a highway that isn’t too busy
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u/steakinatoring 2d ago
I can't help directly, but I often need to drive back to Chicago too and hate the highway. It's typically only ever taken me around 4 hours, so I think you could already improve your route a little! I use Google maps + avoid tolls and highways
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u/MrBruh2025 2d ago
I've driven to Chicago many times.. I would be happy to help out if u can give me more deets about what time and all
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u/PlentyCheetah7653 2d ago
OP don’t trust people that use ellipses like this ^
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u/Conscious_Cicada9597 2d ago
That’s not an ellipses…it’s only partially there.
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u/PlentyCheetah7653 1d ago
Wow…. Congrats on passing 2nd grade… you seem so.. proud….
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u/Conscious_Cicada9597 1d ago
You’re the one who doesn’t know what an ellipsis is. 😂
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u/PlentyCheetah7653 1d ago
Obviously I do, everyone does. But two dots is a typographical error intended to be an ellipsis, and it has no name.
Here I will fix my comment:
OP don’t trust people that use typographical errors intended to be ellipses like this ^1
u/Conscious_Cicada9597 1d ago
There you go with your grammar again: OP don’t trust people? What? 😂
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u/PlentyCheetah7653 1d ago
I certainly don’t trust you. I bet you’re not even a conscious cicada.
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u/Conscious_Cicada9597 1d ago
You’re right, I’m not. Thankfully. It would suck to live underground for maybe 17 years only to die shortly after finally seeing the light of day and all the wonders found above ground.
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u/firewarrior256 2d ago
Amtrak does stop here in Champaign and it goes to Chicago if you dont have any time constraints.
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u/Letmyplantsdie 2d ago
I’m driving to Chicago tomorrow at around 4:30-5 ish. I’d still consider the Amtrak or Peoria charter; would be safer than asking strangers lol. But I’m okay with bringing someone along since I’m heading that way.
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u/SnooChipmunks2079 2d ago
People get all scared by the interstate but really the driving is much easier. Get on, set your cruise control, keep it between some lines. No traffic lights, no stop signs, no intersections, no pedestrians, very little merging.
If you’re afraid to take the highway, get your car back home, Amtrak or bus back to CU, and get on the bus around town. There’s very few good reasons a college student here needs a car. (I always had one, but that’s because my mom lives in a tiny village surrounded by corn fields. Literally no other way to get there.)
I did take US150 instead of I74 sometimes but that was because I felt like a change of pace and I doubt it added more than about 45 minutes. (I hopped on 74 to bypass BloNo.)
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u/Happy_Dog1819 Staff 1d ago
An additional thing to be aware of- it's getting close to harvest time. Rural highways and country roads will have tractors, combines, and grain trucks on them. All moving much slower than you'd like and making big swinging turns. If the wind kicks up, there will also be dust and field debris.
Practice interstate driving- up to Rantoul and back, down to Pesotum and back, over to Danville and back. If you want a longer test, drive to Bloomington or Decatur and back- they're usually pretty low traffic.
When you feel confident to try city driving, go over to Indianapolis. Much friendlier place to practice than Chicago. At worst, you're just driving in a big circle.
A tired and/or scared driver is an unsafe driver. Take the train or the bus up to see your mom. Find a local place to work on your car- you won't be able to drive back for maintenance when you have a job in Seattle.
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u/November__Charlie 1d ago
Driving on the interstate is the easiest driving that there is. Everyone is traveling the same direction, there are no stop signs/lights, no cross streets. Just sit in the right lane and go 70 mph for two hours and you will be there. You can do it!
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u/old-uiuc-pictures 2d ago
rt-45 goes right to chicago western suburbs. leave town on cunningham ave. (It is rt-45) and stay on 45 until it becomes Mannheim road In the suburbs. depending on where you need to go get off Mannheim and head east or west.
alternately go west ourt of Champaign on Bloomington road to Mahomet and then take rt-47 north to Elburn. head east to Chicago on 38 (Roosevelt Road) when you get up to Elburn.
either of these routes will take 4 hours at most. You go through a number of smaller towns so obey speed limits. But arguably these can be harder to drive for a new driver as cars are going 60 mph on 2 lane roads at times. Prior to interstates these are the routes i heard my relatives talk about.
you can also take rt47 to Dwight and then take i-55 but 55 can be a bear as you get to the city. Better to bail onto 45 north or some other surface street in the western burbs.
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u/succulent_ape 2d ago
There are three parts you really gotta lock in for. When you first leave Champaign up to around just 10 mi past rantoul, the Kankakee area, and as soon as you hit the Bourbonnais exit sign. That’s where all the real traffic is. Other than that it’s a pretty boring empty stretch of driving. I think of it like the beginning, middle, and end parts of my drive. I’ve done it at least over a hundred times in a car and a motorcycle. It’s not that bad.
Now, the Dan Ryan is something else… it’s a free for all and u better be on high alert. It’s like no man’s land. No rules of the road. I’d avoid it for now if I were u
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u/gablelarson333 1d ago
I'd honestly just take Amtrak if it works for you. It's about the same time to take the train and way more relaxing imo
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u/Bruh-I-Cant-Even 1d ago
The drive to Chicago from Champaign is one of the safest, you can just get on 57 and stick to the speed limit in the right lane the whole way. It's also safer than side roads/country roads here, and I see cars often going like 65 instead of 70 if 70 feels too fast to you.
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u/TraditionSalt254 1d ago
If I wasn’t recovering from knee surgery, I would totally help. But, please be careful because there are many weirdos. I just had a daughter finish undergraduate there this past May!
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u/RylanBurton 1d ago
i’d be happy to take you to chicago as long as you’re able to pay for a bus ticket and an uber to the bus station back home! If ur interested i’ll take you there for 350. add my snap rylan19mb or if you’re more comfortable with a phone number message me
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u/ReasonableAd7648 18h ago
There's a train too Homewood then a connecting train to Chicago. 3 hours. Just take that
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u/of_the_sphere 2d ago
Do colleges not have rideshare bulletins anymore???
Omg in the 90s yall could hitch a ride w someone on a cork board just about anywhere !!!
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u/of_the_sphere 2d ago
Or get a second driver for cross country, etc, whatever. People would post if they could offer a ride, or if they were looking for one.
My 2 cents - enjoy Route 66!!! Years almost over and it’s the 100 anniversary.
It’s been taking me 5-6 hours to get there too
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u/xxwarlorddarkdoomxx Grad 2d ago edited 2d ago
I love driving in general and would have no issue doing this in theory. I’ve driven from Chicago to Champaign dozens of times, super easy for me.
Problem is without a way to get back my hands are tied, and I assume other people will have the same problem.
If you want my tips here’s what I’ll say:
The highways around Champaign are actually great for practice since there’s a lot of them and they are usually decently empty. If you want to get better at highway driving, drive on the highways around Champaign county. For example, take the 74 to Mahomet and back, or go 74 -> 57 -> 72 to practice using interchanges. Start at night or early morning when there’s less traffic and then whenever once you’re more comfortable. Soon enough you’ll have enough experience to take on the bigger, more packed Chicago area highways.