Local Guide

Local food, activity, and transportation information.

Parking

Parking is limited on campus (unless you are staying at the Illini Union Hotel), so we recommend that people walk or take a bus. For more information on parking, see here. 

Buses

Champaign-Urbana has a fairly extensive bus system, MTD. The buses costs $1 to ride one-way, but if you board the bus at a stop on or near campus, the bus is free! (These are called “i-stops” and the signs at the stops are orange instead of the regular blue signs.) Fares can be paid with cash or with the Token Transit app. The bus schedule can be found on MTD's website and is also integrated fairly well with google maps.

Buses between campus and downtown Champaign: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Brown, Teal

Buses between campus and downtown Urbana: Green, Silver, Gold

Restaurants

There are many restaurants around town, so here is a list of places recommended by UIUC grad students. Note that some places will have restricted summer hours, especially closer to campus. Keep in mind that most places cannot accommodate very large groups of people, so please split into small groups for meals! 

Near Campus

Bangkok Thai - Thai

Bread Company - Sandwiches and salads

EVO - Chinese, $7.99 lunch special weekdays

Fernando’s - Mexican food truck, usually parked near the corner of Wright St and Green St during lunch hours

Jerusalem - Middle eastern

Jip Bap - Korean

Mandarin Wok - Chinese, has some tables for large groups

Manolo’s - Pizza and empanadas

Pokelab - Poke bowls

Shawarma Joint - shawarma bowls/wraps/pitas, has a lunch special

Watson’s Truck - Fried chicken food truck, sometimes parked near the corner of Wright St and Green St during lunch hours

Yogi - Korean

Further From Campus

Black Dog - Barbeque

Courier Cafe - Diner

Fernando’s - Mexican food truck, usually parked near the corner of Main St and Walnut in Downtown Champaign around dinner time

Golden Harbor - Chinese, has some space for large groups

Kohinoor - Indian

Mary Ann’s - Diner

Nando Milano - Italian

Papa Del’s - Pizza

Seven Saints - Sliders, sandwiches, and salads

Siam Terrace - Thai

SushiMan - All-you-can-eat sushi

Tres Nopales - Mexican

Watson’s - Fried chicken

Windy City Express - Local fast food joint

Note for large groups: If you want to go to dinner with a large group, there are some bigger chain restaurants in town that might be more easily able to accommodate you, especially if you call ahead (Outback, Longhorn, Hibachi, Chili’s, Red Robin, Olive Garden, etc.)

Coffee

There are a lot of coffee places in town, but here are a few that are closest to Gregory Hall and the Illini Union Hotel.

Espresso Royale

Brewlab

Dunkin

Starbucks

Caffe Bene

Ice Cream

Jarlings - Frozen custard

Oberweis - Ice cream

Activities

Parks/Nature

The Arboretum / Idea Garden / Japan House Gardens

Crystal Lake Park

Meadowbrook Park

Breweries

The Blind Pig - there are two locations in downtown Champaign; the one on Neil St has outdoor seating and trivia at 7pm on Sundays

Riggs - not very accessible by bus, so find a designated driver with a car!

Triptych - near the Yellow bus line

25 O'Clock - near downtown Urbana, has trivia at 6pm on Sundays

Miscellaneous

Illini Union Rec Room - bowling and pool tables, open 12-9 Mon-Fri and 2-9 Sat-Sun

Campus recreation facilities - free for those staying at Illini Union Hotel, request a pass at the front desk

Skateland - roller skating and laser tag

Old Orchard Lanes - bowling alley

Urbana Farmers Market - Saturday mornings, get food, coffee, art, and artisan goods

American Football House - Midwest emo landmark 

Just in Case

Closest Pharmacy: Walgreen's, 407 E Green St, Champaign, IL 61820

Closest Urgent Care: CampusTown Urgent Care, 631 E Green St, Champaign, IL 61820

Hospitals: Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W Park St, Urbana, IL 61801; OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, 1400 W Park St, Urbana, IL 61801

COVID Testing: There is a SHIELD Illinois testing center on campus for PCR tests. UIUC students, faculty, and staff can also pick up rapid tests at various locations around campus. If you want a rapid test, ask a local participant or email Grace at mccourt4@illinois.edu.