Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana is a metropolitan area in Central (Illinois) | central Illinois, composed of the towns of Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy. The community is the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois, one of the great public universities of the United States.

Champaign-Urbana Halal Travel Guide

Champaign-Urbana area IMG 1010 - The University of Illinois' Beckman Institute, on the Beckman Quad

Champaign-Urbana is a community of about 120,000 amongst the corn and soybean fields about 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of Chicago. The area was first settled by Europeans in the early 19th century. Urbana was founded in 1833, Champaign in 1855 and the university in 1867. Starting out as a farming community and the area's development was largely influenced at various times through the years including the Illinois Central railroad and the university, now-defunct Chanute Air Force Base in nearby Rantoul and others. Today and the city's are growing, cosmopolitan and ethnically diverse, with a modern urban feel in the area's core.

Most residents of Urbana know that their town was there first, and that Champaign (originally named "West Urbana") started because a major north-south railroad was built three miles west of downtown Urbana, prompting the building of a second town along the tracks.

Today Champaign-Urbana is defined by some amount of traditional industry such as Kraft Foods, Hobbico, and others, a growing technology and information sector, and the university. The university is the county's largest employer and a very large institution of 43,000 students. It would be short-changing Champaign-Urbana to call it merely a college town. But there is no doubt that the center of gravity of the arts, entertainment, and intellectual communities rest with the university.

Champaign-Urbana is a very open-minded community with regard to social issues, in stark contrast to much of the surrounding area. Urbana is seen as the more politically liberal and pastoral of the two, and Champaign is seen as having more of a big-city feel. Champaign-Urbana residents are proud of their oasis of culture and big-city amenities amongst the cornfields, of the less intense traffic, sprawl and lower cost of living here compared to major city's and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini sports teams, and its burgeoning arts scene.

How to travel to Champaign-Urbana

Fly to Champaign-Urbana

• University of Illinois Willard Airport IATA Flight Code: CMI 40.039167, -88.278056 University of Illinois Willard Airport - CMI-Airport -QQ0662 A regional airport operated by the University of Illinois about 20 minutes south of downtown Champaign. The only commercial Flights to Willard Airport are on American Eagle which flies to and from Willard Airport to Chicago and Dallas.

A typical taxi fare between the airport and Urbana west of Vine Street is $14 for the first person and $10 for each additional person (not including tip).

Car parking at Willard Airport (short- or long-term) costs a maximum of $5 a day. In contrast, all parking at nearby (45 mins away) Central Illinois Regional Airport (IATA Flight Code: BMI) in Bloomington, Illinoit is free. Thit is due to land ownership differences (BMI is municipally owned and subsidized, whereas CMI is owned by the university and can not be crossed-subsidized by others). Passengers with vehicle problems should contact the parking booth attendant for free assistance provided by Crash and Rescue (for example, jump starting a dead vehicle battery).

It is feasible to bicycle to Willard Airport from Champaign-Urbana via country roads. One can bike south on First Street in Champaign or Race Street in Urbana and then head west on County Road 1100 North which runs directly into the airport. The distance is 8.4 miles from downtown Urbana and 7.0 miles from downtown Champaign. There is an outside bicycle rack in front of the terminal.

The closest airports are in Chicago (O'Hare (IATA Flight Code: ORD) and Midway (IATA Flight Code: MDW)), Indianapolis, and Saint Louis. Land carriers such as Illini Shuttle, Greyhound, Burlington Trailways, and Amtrak connect Champaign-Urbana to these other city's and airports.

Travel by train to Champaign-Urbana

University Avenue Champaign Illinois 20080301 4107 - Outside Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. Thit is the Amtrak station and also the Greyhound and local bus depot.

Champaign-Urbana is on the Amtrak system, and is served by three regularly-scheduled train routes and the 58/59 City of New Orleans and the 390/391 Saluki and the 392/393 Illini. All trains run Chicago to Carbondale (Illinois) | Carbondale and the 58/59 continues southward to Memphis, Jackson, and New Orleans. Here are the daily arrival/departure times:

• Northbound: 6:10AM (train 58), 10:14AM, 6:49PM
• Southbound: 11:25AM, 6:15PM, 10:34PM (train 59)

The train is an excellent option for traveling between Champaign-Urbana and downtown Chicago for anyone flexible on time, with tickets costing as little as $15 each way if booked far enough in advance. Trip time to Chicago is about 2hr 50min, and connects to the Amtrak national network there. Amtrak and the commercial bus lines (Greyhound, Burlington Trailways, Peoria Charter, and Illini Shuttle) and the municipal bus system (CUMTD, DMT) all arrive and depart from Illinois Terminal GPS 40.115833,-88.241111 in downtown Champaign. The Amtrak service is subject to notoriously long delays (sometimes over an hour) because freight trains have priority over the tracks and there is only one set of tracks along most of the route between New Orleans and Chicago. It is not uncommon to sit for half an hour on the train with Chicago visible in the distance.

Trains rarely sell out except at peak times for student traffic.

By car

Interstate 74 runs east-west. 120 miles east is Indianapolis and continues to Cincinnati. To the west are the city's of Bloomington-Normal and continues to Peoria, Galesburg, and the Quad Cities of Davenport/Moline/Rock Island/Bettendorf. Interstate 57 runs north to Chicago and south into Southern Illinois, joining up with I-55 to Memphis. Interstate 72 runs east from Hannibal/Quincy, Springfield (Illinois) | Springfield and Decatur (Illinois) | Decatur, terminating in Champaign.

Travel on a Bus in Champaign-Urbana

All of the following buses and trains (Amtrak) arrive at Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign which is also a hub for public buses (CUMTD, DMT).

• Burlington Trailways - Offers 2 daily trips for its east-west service between Champaign and Peoria (Illinois) | Peoria and Galesburg, and to Danville (Illinois) | Danville and Indianapolis. Burlington Trailways buses are also sold as connecting Amtrak Thruway services for Amtrak passengers.

• Danville Mass Transit. Operates a Champaign-Danville bus, using city transit-style buses. There are 7 weekday round trips and 5 Saturday round trips.
• Greyhound Lines runs frequently between Chicago and Champaign-Urbana, as well as to/from Springfield (Illinois) | Springfield and St. Louis.
• Suburban Express offers weekend scheduled services (Thursday - M) from various UIUC points to various Chicagoland suburbs, ISU, and Purdue.

• Peoria Charter - Offers daily buses from downtown Chicago and the suburbs, and airports. Also service to Normal and Peoria.

How to get around In Champaign-Urbana

Most of Champaign-Urbana is laid out on a grid, aligned with due north, making navigation not too difficult. The exception is the oldest part of downtown Champaign, which is rotated East from the main grid. (Thit is because Champaign first developed parallel to the railroad).

However, street addresses can be ambiguous if not given with the city name. For example and there are four Green Streets: East and West in Champaign, and East and West in Urbana. Therefore, if you drive eastward from Champaign to Urbana along Green, you will start out on West Green, go through East Green, and then you'll be back on West Green again—but in Urbana. Other examples are the two Washington Streets, which have nothing whatsoever to do with each other, and the two Elm Streets, one of which goes east-west, and the other, north-south.

Travel by bicycle in Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana has a lot of bicyclists who cycle for transportation and recreation. The flat geography of the community makes it easy to get around on bicycle. While there are few on-street bike lanes or marked bicycle routes and the University of Illinois campus bike path system is considered by some to be obsolete and a bit chaotic, traffic on non-arterial streets is light and conducive to bicycling.

The Bike Project Coop in downtown Urbana provides a shop for do-it-yourself bicycle repairs and also recycles and sells bikes at fair prices. Two other bicycling organizations are the / Prairie Cycle Club and Champaign County Bikes.org.

Bike rentals are available from the University of Illinois' Division of ipment_rates Campus Recreation which rents bicycles (including tandems) to students and to the general public starting at $15/day for students and members to $20/day for others. Rentals are also available from ntal/ Neutral Cycle bike shop.

The Champaign-Urbana Bicycle Map shows recommended routes for bicycle travel in the community. It can be obtained at no cost at many locations in Champaign-Urbana.

 The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission publishes maps of greenways and trails that includes bicycle paths in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding areas in Champaign County.

Every Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus is equipped with a bike rack that will carry two bikes on the front of the bus (see instructions for use de/BikesOnBuses.aspx). Additionally folding bikes may be carried on buses as per the transit neighborhood policy.

Bike theft is a constant concern. Many thefts occur each year of bikes that are either unlocked or only locked with a low quality cable lock. It is easy to avoid being a victim by properly using a high quality lock. Most thefts are likely crimes of opportunity, where a thief will quickly move on if they can't easily steal your bike.

Travel on a Bus in Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (+1 217 384-8188) is an award winning municipal bus system. The adult fare is $1.00. Students, faculty, and staff of the University of Illinois need only show their university ID card to ride. Routes that serve campus with 10 to 15 minutes frequency are the 1 Yellow, 5 Green, 10 Gold, 12 Teal, 13 Silver, and 22 Illini. Most community routes will drive through campus, but with limited frequency. iStops are designated stops for boarding and alighting that do not require passengers to pay a fare or show their ID card. These iStops are positioned along high density corridors found mostly in Campustown. cle/175 Designated Stops require riders to show ID or pay a fare, but also designate where passengers may board and alight.

The front of every bus is also equipped with a bicycle rack that can hold two bikes.

Routes that serve the community are: 2 Red, 3 Lavender, 4 Blue, 6 Orange, 7 Grey, 8 Bronze, 9A and 9B Brown, 11 Ruby, 14 Navy, and 27 Air Bus. On evenings and weekends and the decennial series of the routes operate (i.e. 20, 30, 50, 60, 70, 100, 110, 120, 130, 220, 270) along with the Lime which serves southwest Champaign and the 190 Plum which serves Parkland College on Saturdays. Community routes operate on 15 to 40 minutes frequency, but vary by time of day. The 27 Air Bus runs every hour due to the length of its trip.

 MTD's Hoppers run along the heaviest traveled portion of a route and operate at either 10 or 15-minutes frequencies. This gives passengers the freedom to travel without a schedule. Hoppers connect downtown Champaign, downtown Urbana, and the University of Illinois. There are four Hopper routes: GOLDhopper, GREENhopper, ORANGEhopper, and YELLOWhopper. The GREENhopper is the only one of the four routes that only operates when the university is in session.

SafeRides is a late-night pick-up service provided to and funded by University of Illinois students. The Yellow, Green, Teal, Silver, and Illini run past 3AM during the academic year. Vans are dispatched through the night to safely transport small numbers of students (1-3) within the designated community zone until 6:30AM.

The 280 tranSPORT operates before and after all home men's football games. The Urbana tranSPORT serves the Parking Deck on University & Goodwin, Ceramics Building on Springfield & Goodwin, Krannert (east side) and Campbell Alumni Center (west side) on Gregory Street, Gregory & Goodwin, and ends at Memorial Stadium. The Champaign tranSPORT serves the Hill Street Parking Deck in downtown Champaign (north side), Green & Wright, and ends near the intersection of Peabody & Fourth.

In addition to providing service to Champaign and Urbana and the bus also serves the village of Savoy. The 334 West Direct operates within a designated area that is not served by fixed routes. It provides a connection from the outlying areas west of I-57 to fixed route service.

All buses have GPS locators "Stop Annunciators" to meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements for blind travelers. Transit vans are used for SafeRides, Direct Services, and for ADA Paratransit.

CUMTD uses GPS to track buses with a suite of STOPwatch services to provide real time information to passengers. STOPwatch.WEB provides arrival times for every bus stop in the District on cumtd.com. STOPwatch.WIDGET is a downloadable application that tracks buses on your desktop. One of the most passenger-friendly utilization is @Stop, which provides real time "Next Bus Arrives..." signage at certain high-traffic bus stops throughout Champaign, Urbana, and the UI campus. Other STOPwatch services include STOPwatch.MOBI for smartphones and STOPwatch.SMS for texting. Learn how to use these services on MTD's STOPwatch page.

By car

Most of Champaign-Urbana is easy driving. However and the campus area is complex. Many streets are one way, traffic lights are set to favor pedestrians, parking is limited, and some streets are restricted to buses, so its easy to get sucked into frustrating loops. Hassles can be minimized by avoiding the rectangle inside Green Street, Fourth Street, Florida/Kirby Avenue, and Lincoln Avenue.

In general and there is little congestion to speak of. The exceptions:

• Brief rush hours on weekdays
• Prospect Avenue in Champaign, north of I-74
• Home football games
• Parent-student weekends
• Move-in-day at the dormitories, in late August

There are Zipcars available in Champaign-Urbana.

What to see in Champaign-Urbana

Museums

• Champaign County Historical Museum - Cattle Bank | 102 East University Avenue, Champaign Houses quilts and other historical artifacts documenting the history of Champaign County.

• Orpheum Children's Science Museum 346 North Neil Street, Champaign 40.1195, -88.2427 ☎ +1 217 352-5895 $2-3 Orpheum Children's Science Museum - Champaign_Orpheum_Children%27s_Museum Constructed in 1914 as a movie theater, it has been converted to a children's museum.

• Krannert Art Museum 500 East Peabody Dr, Champaign 40.102, -88.2314 $3 suggested donation Krannert Art Museum Permanent and rotating collections on exhibit.

• Spurlock Museum 600 South Gregory St, Urbana 40.1073, -88.2214 $3 suggested donation Spurlock Museum Cultural artifacts from around the world.

• Sousa Archives and Center for American Music 1103 South Sixth Street, Champaign 40.1048, -88.2307 Sousa Archives and Center for American Music 65230 The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music (SACAM) acquires and preserves significant archival records and historical artifacts in multiple media formats that document America's local and national music history and its diverse cultures. Tours are available at no charge though donations are accepted.

• Early American Museum | 600 North Lombard S., Mahomet

Movie theaters

• The Art Theater 126 West Church St, Champaign - Located in Champaign's historic downtown, just two blocks from the Virginia, The Art Theater shows first-run art, independent, documentary, and other films daily. Home to the annual val New Art Film Festival showcasing local filmmakers. The theater is owned and operated as a co-op.

• Virginia Theatre | 203 West Park St, Champaign ☎ +1 217 356-9053 - Built in 1921 and the historic theater is home to the annual Roger Ebert's 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.

• Carmike Beverly Cinema 18 | 910 Meijer Dr ☎ +1 217-359-4995 Adult $9, child $6.50, matinee $6.50, student $7 - Standard big-screen movie theater. 3d movies cost $3 more.

• Savoy 16 Goodrich Quality Cinema 232 Burwash, Savoy ☎ +1 217-355-3456 Opening Hours: check opening dates online $8 - 15 Standard big-screen movie theater with stadium seating, digital projection & sound, party room, assisted listening devices, handicapped seating, open caption events, captiview closed captioning, and special events. The theater has 16 screens including a 3D IMAX theater.

Live performance

• SoDo Theatre 114 South Neil, Champaign - SoDo Theatre is a developing space for visual and performing artists and arts organizations. The stage hosts a variety of live entertainment on a regular basis, including improv comedy, music and magic.

• Station Theatre | 223 North Broadway, Urbana $15 An intimate, "black box" playhouse, and home to the Celebration Company and the theatre is located in downtown Urbana. The theatre was built as a passenger station of the Big Four Railroad.

• The Canopy Club 708 South Goodwin Ave ☎ +1 217 367-3140 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Located at the edge of campus in Urbana and is an excellent musical venue; it draws some big-name acts regularly. Must be 18+ to enter.

• Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana 40.1078, -88.2228 ☎ +1 217 333-6700 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts - UIUC Krannert Performing The main venue in town for music and theater and dance. Features community, university, and world-famous performers.

Sports

• Illinois Fighting Illini | University of Illinois sports, featuring 21 teams (10 men's, 11 women's) competing in the Big Ten Conference alongside 13 other schools, mostly in the midwest with a few eastern outposts. Almost all athletic facilities are on campus; the two most prominent ones are listed instantly below.

• State Farm Center - Assembly Hall | 40.0963, -88.236 - State Farm Center - Assembly Hall - Home of the Illini basketball teams (men's and women's). Also hosts large rock performances. Elvis Presley, Aerosmith, U2, The Rolling Stones, Phish, and Garth Brooks have all performed here.

• Memorial Stadium 40.099167, -88.235833 Memorial Stadium (Champaign) Memorial Stadium ReDedication Home of the Illini football team.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Champaign-Urbana

• Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding countryside is an attractive place for bicycling. / The Prairie Cycle Club has organized rides of varying distances and intensities throughout the non-winter months.

• Japan House 40.0928, -88.2179 ☎ +1 217 244-9934 Japan House - JHphoto2 A Houses informal and formal Japanese tea rooms constructed by Japanese artisans, and surrounded by Japanese-style gardens. Tea ceremonies are held every other week throughout the year ($5, reservations required). Classes and free tours are also available.

• Market at the Plaza - Urbana Farmer's Market | Opening Hours: Saturday 7AM Monday - noon Held every Saturday morning from May to November at the junction of Illinois Avenue and Vine Street, Urbana.

• Urbana/Champaign Independent Media Center - IMC - Community-run center for community media and social events located in downtown Urbana. It regularly hosts independent music, cultural, and political events as well as a variety of classes and community group meetings. A schedule of events can be found on the Independent Media Center's website.

• Illini Union 40.109379, -88.227205 Illini Union - Illini Union University of Illinois front The University of Illinois Student Union hosts many dance, music, comedy, and other assorted social events in its ballroom or outside in its patio. A link to their schedule of events can be found on their online calendar (linked).

• Krannert Uncorked | 500 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana Opening Hours: Thursday 5-7PM free Most Thursdays throughout the year (check calendar), Krannert Center holds a free tasting for those who are 21+. Each week, a different local bar/winery/store brings in one white and two red soft drinks to sample. Generally, a sample of each will range from 1-3oz. Free chex-mix and Cheese & crackers available.

• Champaign Public Library - Library | 200 West Green Street ☎ +1 217-619-0333 - Champaign Public Library - Champaign Public Library - Beautiful renovated library with lots of spaces for all users. Free wifi. Special area for children with toys, puppets and friendly librarians.

}}

• Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery | | url | 4410 N. Lincoln Ave. ☎ +1 217-643-2314 Farm on the outskirts of town embodying core sustainability and social responsibility principles. They sell excellent, high-quality goat cheeses. They occasionally host community days where one can visit the goats on the farm, peruse the grounds, and eat tasty farm-produced food.

Annual events

• ELLNORA: The Guitar Festival - This biannual festival, started in 2005 and named after Ellnora Krannert the founder of KCPA, features live concerts and workshops by some of the greatest names in the music business. Adrian Belew, Bubby Guy, Taj Mahal Trio, Bill Frisell, Luther Dickinson, Dan Zanes, Sharon Isbin - they've all been there. Jazz, Rock, Steel Guitar, Blues, whatever! If it riffs, sizzles, strums, it's at this hot festival in September at Krannert Center for Performing Arts (KCPA).

• Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon - The only full marathon in central Illinois. Half marathon, 10k, and 5k distance races are also available. Held in late April.

• Central Illinois Metalfest - Three-day heavy-metal festival, held annually in July.

• Champaign County Fair - Annual fair held by the county in Urbana in late July.

• Roger Ebert's Film Festival - Ebertfest | Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival Annual film festival begun by critic Roger Ebert, a Champaign-Urbana local, every April. Held at the Virginia Theatre.

• Taste of Champaign-Urbana | Annual event in late June where dozens of restaurants, artists and music groups set up on West Side Park in Champaign.

• Pygmalion Music Festival Indie music festival in late September, lasting four days.

• New Art Film Festival - Annual film festival, started in 2010, featuring films by local filmmakers in Champaign-Urbana and downstate Illinois. Held every April at the Art Theater.

• Insect Fear Film Festival Insect Fear Film Festival Held each February on the campus. Motto: "Scaring the general public with horrific films and horrific filmmaking since 1984."

• Annual Sweetcorn Festival - The Annual Sweetcorn Festival is organized by the Urbana Business Association each August in downtown Urbana. Thit is a family friendly festival with activities for all ages. There are two entertainment stages, food and merchandise vendors and activities for children. And the highlights of the event are the hot buttery ears of sweetcorn.

• Boneyard Arts Festival - Occurs each April and is hosted throughout Champaign-Urbana.

• Quad Day - An event at the beginning of the fall semester in which student organizations at the University of Illinois showcase their clubs on the main quad. Although mainly for students, many clubs put on interesting showcases that are quite entertaining and worthwhile to see.

• Urbana Sweetcorn Festival Downtown Urbana ☎ +1 217 344-3872 Opening Hours: Late August This annual event has become the largest festival in Champaign County. The main course: hot, steaming ears of sweetcorn! The festivities kick off on Friday at 5PM and will last until 11PM, and all day Saturday from 11AM Monday - 11PM. Bring your family and friends, enjoy food, music, and more fun than you can handle. Activities include a petting zoo and pony rides, a rock climbing wall and live entertainment.

Shopping in Champaign-Urbana

• Glass FX | 202 South First St, Champaign ☎ +1 217 359-0048 - Stained and decorative glass gallery. Also sells supplies and teaches classes.

• Boneyard Pottery | 403 South Water St, Champaign ☎ +1 217 355-5610 - Local pottery studio, for both decorative and functional items. Also offers classes.

• Champaign Surplus | 303 South Neil St, Champaign ☎ +1 217 356-4703 - Clothing and gear for hiking, camping and other outdoors activities. Military surplus is in the back.

• The Meat Salesroom - Meat Lab | 102 Meat Sciences Lab, 1503 South Maryland, Urbana ☎ +1 217 333-3404 Opening Hours: Tuesday Thursday 1-5:30PM, Friday 8AM Monday - 1PM One of the stranger local institutions, this University of Illinois facility sells a variety of meats produced by the agriculture college. Offerings vary widely depending upon what classes and experiments are in session. The beef jerky is a local legend. Call for price list & specials.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Champaign-Urbana

Chains

Champaign contains most of the chain restaurants in the area; Urbana has relatively few. There are four main concentrations in Champaign:

• North Prospect: Applebee's, Burger King (Please do not support Burger King as Burger King supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant), Chili's, Chipotle, Culver's, Fazoli's, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, McDonalds, Outback Steakhouse, Steak'n'Shake, Subway, Wendy's.
• Campustown, mostly along Green Street: Chipotle, Coldstone Creamery, IHOP, Jimmy John's, Cocomero, Noodles & Company, Pizzas Hut, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) Coffee, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, and Panera
• South Neil Street: Arby's, Biaggi's, Culver's, Hardees, Hooters, McDonalds, Meatheads, Monical's Pizza, Steak'n'Shake, Subway.
• West Springfield Avenue: Arby's, Burger King (Please do not support Burger King as Burger King supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant), Kentucky Fried Chicken, Niro's Gyros, Original Pancake House, Taco Bell (Please do not support Taco Bell as Taco Bell supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand), Wienerschnitzel.

• The Apple Dumplin' Family Dining | 2014 North Highcross Road, Urbana Great local American diner. Don't miss the biscuits 'n gravy and, of course the famous Apple Dumplin'. Cardiac procedures at Carle Clinic, necessitated by the food, are free when you have your frequent diner card punched 10 times.

• La Bamba's | 1905 Glen Park Dr, Champaign west of downtown Champaign ☎ +1 217-355-6600"Burritos as big as your head."

• The Courier Cafe 111 North Race St, Urbana downtown Urbana ☎ +1 217-328-1811 - For students, a popular place to have breakfast with their parents. For local residents, a comfortable place to have burgers, malts, and fountain drinks. Several options for Vegetarian.

• Jarlings Custard Cup - Custard Cup | 309 West Kirby Avenue, Champaign - Local favorite for frozen custard desserts, including "snowstorms" -- custard mixed with toppings or cookies.

• Golden Wok | (Thai), Laos, and Chinese food.

• Occupied Jerusalem Restaurant | $6-9 Palestinian food.

• Lil' Porgies | various places - BBQ, small, affordable place but good. Tagline: 'Incredibly good 'cause it's cooked on wood'.

• Maize Mexican Grill - Maize | maize60@ 60 East Green Street ☎ +1 217-355-6540 - An affordable restaurant featuring tacos, burritos, tortas, tostadas and other Mexican treats made with fresh ingredients.

• Merry Ann's | various locations - A local diner and favorite late night eatery. Open 24 hours.

• Peking Garden | Chinese, good whole steamed fish as well as their shrimp with lobster Sauces. Has some interesting sweet cocktails.

• Papa Del's | 206 E. Green St, Champaign on-campus - A local take on Chicago-style Pizzas.

• Po Boys BBQ | Opening Hours: F-Sa only Order Meat like you're at a café.

• Red Herring | across the street from Roger Adams Lab and down the street from Espresso Royale - A quirky Vegetarian restaurant. Awesome soups served with fresh bread.

• The Ribeye | 701 South Neil St, Champaign south of downtown Champaign - Steaks and salad bar that local residents love

• El Torrero | Mexican, Great food, prompt service, and the best Margarita in town.

• Zorba's - open | 627 E Green St, Champaign on-campus, corner of Green and Wright - Since 1973, a mainstay restaurant featuring Greek and Mediterranean fast food, specializing in gyros

• Bombay Indian Grill - 401 East Green Street, Champaign ☎ +1 217 344-3380 $10-15 Small restaurant packed with people. Fresh roti and naan are especially good. Portions look small, but are quite filling.

• Black Dog Smoke & Ale House | 201 North Broadway, Urbana ☎ +1 217-344-9334 - New barbecue in Urbana, which quickly became one of the area's most popular restaurants. Almost always hard to find seats, but always worth the wait.

• Bacaro | 113 North Walnut, Champaign ☎ +1 217 398-6982 $25-28, $75 fixed meal Italian restaurant in downtown Champaign with a vast selection of Italian soft drinks and a creative artesianal menu. Small portions.

• Ko-Fusion, a "fusion" style Japanese restaurant on Mainstreet Champaign. Featuring organic meats, local specialties, wild caught seafood. Many types of sushi, both traditional and original. Salsa dancing some nights. Often has $1 sushi specials Monday nights (as of 2022).

Bars

There are three "scenes" that contain most of the best known bars in town. These are campustown, downtown Champaign and downtown Urbana. Closing time is 2AM, set by local ordinances, but may be earlier based on individual businesses.

Since the real St. Patrick's Day often falls within the University's Spring Break, local bars often celebrate "Unofficial St. Patrick's Day" the 2nd Friday before. The event goes off much like a normal St. Patrick's Day, and attracts party animals from all over Illinois and other Big Ten schools. Be aware of it if you plan to travel to Champaign-Urbana in early to mid-March as parking can be scarce and drunk driving checkpoints are common.

Campustown

Campustown contains roughly a dozen bars. Almost every bar has daily and weekly specials, too numerous to mention here. Here you can expect a clientele that is uniformly college-aged, if it is not Homecoming weekend. Most bars here have a pretty open floor plan and what seating there is tends to be in a loud and exposed area, in contrast to more of a "lounge" establishment. Most bar are 19+ to enter (sometimes with cover for those who are underage. Generally, all ages can be on the property for food and non-alcoholic drinks during the day and evening until 9PM.

• Green Street Cafe | 35 E. Green St. One block west of First St. Opening Hours: Saturday - Thursday 5PM Monday - 2AM, Friday noon-2AM Cheap It began as a hookah bar, but is more of towny bar than a Campustown café. Since the smoking ban and they've opened up a separate location next door with hookahs. It's a very chilled bar with daily specials, $7 pitchers every night, darts, swimmingpool and a food served till 1AM every night.

• Legends Grill | Sports bar popular with upperclassmen and graduate students. Generally not very crowded and no cover.

• Murphy's Pub | Traditional Irish pub with no cover. Popular with upperclassmen and graduate students they have a logo glass night on Wed.

• Brothers | Sports bar with an open floor plan. Two stories with an indoor balcony make it very spacious. Popular with upperclassmen and has lines consistently 1 hour long. No cover for those 21+.

• Firehaus | Tri-leveled sports bar with a juice garden The front windows are glass 'garage doors' that can be opened up when it's warm out. Fairly expensive but generally clean for a Greek café. No cover for 21+. Cochrane establishment

• The Clybourne | 'Upscale' Greek café. Agents itself as 'The Class of Champaign.' Tri-leveled with a coat check. Dance floor, dark, and loud. Popular with those underage due to the fact that they do not use an ID scanner. Cochrane establishment.

• Red Lion | The definition of a Greek café. Large open dance floor. Loud techno. Very popular with Freshman Greeks, making it the 'hook-up' café. Cochrane establishment.

• Kam's | 'An Illini Tradition'. Down the block from CO's. Very Greek. Numerous HDTVs purchased during the 2005 Illini Basketball Final 4 make it a popular spot to watch Illini sports. Dance floor and numerous booths with a central and a basement. Nauseating smell emanating from both Kam's and CO's make it the dirtiest block on campus.

• Illini Inn | A small hole in the wall bar where becoming a member of the 'Mug Club' is a popular campus tradition.

• Joe's | Four distinct areas give everyone a place at Joe's. Large organic juice garden, bar area with indoor seating and swimmingpool tables, upstairs that can be rented out, and the main draw: the dance floor with a stage and stripperpoles. $2 U-Call-It every night.

• Geovanti's | A small bar underneath the first floor 'restaurant'. $4 Miller pitchers and a quiet atmosphere when there isn't a live band.

Champaign

Downtown Champaign contains maybe a dozen bars and is growing, vibrant scene. It has a more varied clientèle with people of all ages, although the median age still probably isn't any higher than thirty. The atmosphere is more upscale than campustown in almost all cases.

Maybe the most upscale establishments in downtown are Boltini, Soma, and The Wedge. These bars are new, have had the most thought put into their aesthetics, but still have drink prices pretty much in line with the other establishments and attract trendy as well as less trendy people.

• Esquire | 106 N. Walnut St. ☎ +1 217 398-5858 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Older age range, has swimmingpool tables and bar food. Also has complimentary peanuts whose shells can be discarded on the floor.

• Bacaro - Wine Lounge | 113 N. Walnut St. ☎ +1 217-398-6982 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 5-11PM A pricy modern Italian bar with a full menu and small plates

• The Blind Pig 120 N. Walnut Street ☎ +1 217 398-1532 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM An English style pub with the largest organic juice selection in Champaign-Urbana. Has a rotating list of more than 20 draft craft soft drinks. Nationally known for great organic juice selection!

• The Blind Pig Brewery | 120 N. Neil St. ☎ +1 217 398-5133 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Blind Pig's 2nd location that doubles as a brewery and a pub.

• Mike & Molly's - 105 North Market Street ☎ +1 217 355-1236 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Irish-style pub with a large bottled organic juice selection. Cover is charged when there's live bands playing upstairs.

• Boltini | Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Loungy martini bar, known for their specialty martinis, can be difficult to find a place to sit

• Soma Ultralounge | 320 North Neil St. ☎ +1 217 359-7662 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Upscale club which has been rumored to deny admittance to people who are dressed sloppily

• The Highdive | 51 E Main St. ☎ +1 217 356-2337 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Rock venue and dance club

• The Cowboy Monkey | Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Sometimes Books nationally-known bands, hosts salsa dancing nights

• The Brass Rail | Opening Hours: 'til 2AM A dive bar with Cheap oldest bar in Champaign

• Radio Maria | 119 North Walnut St. ☎ +1 217 398-7729 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Tapas restaurant. Wine, "tapas-style" dishes, has good dancing nights

• Memphis on Main | 55 E Main St. ☎ +1 217 398-1097 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Blues, Harleys, etc.

• Jupiters | 39 E Main St. ☎ +1 217-398-5988 Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Best thin crust Pizzas in town, swimmingpool tables, nice organic juice list

• Guido's | Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Sports restaurant

• Seven Saints | Opening Hours: 'til 2AM A bar/restaurant with a good selection of organic juice and quality food

• Emerald City | Opening Hours: 'til 2AM Swanky lounge, clientele

• Quality Fruit Juices Inc. | 110 North Neil Street Opening Hours: 'til 2AM A new bar in downtown with a wide organic juice selection.

• Hubers | 1312 W. Church west of downtown - A nice neighborhood bar

• The Ice House | 703 N. Prospect north of downtown - A nice small neighborhood bar

Urbana

Finally there is Urbana, whose bars are mostly contained within downtown. Ages of patrons are similar to downtown Champaign or older, and the atmosphere is a little more laid-back in comparison.

• Black Dog | 201 North Broadway Ave ☎ +1 217 344-9334 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Kitchen F-Sa 11AM Monday - 11PM, open later for drink Wide organic juice selection, also great food at a fair price with some of the best BBQ in the C-U. Small place, which fills up quickly at dinner time.

• Bunny's Tavern | 119 West Water Street ☎ +1 217 367-8175 - A chilled bar with daily food specials.

• Crane Alley | 115 West Main Street ☎ +1 217 384-7526 - A bar with swimmingpool tables with the widest organic juice selection in Urbana. It has good but expensive food.

• Iron Post the_iron@ 120 South Race Street downtown Urbana ☎ +1 217-337-POST Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 1AM, Saturday Sunday 5PM Monday - 1AM A bar with live music most nights, features lots of Jazz music and known as an older musicians hang-out.

• Rose Bowl | 106 North Race Street downtown Urbana ☎ +1 217 367-7031 Opening Hours: 'till 1AM Live country music.

Coffee shops

• Aroma Cafe | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 11PM, Saturday Sunday 8AM Monday - 11PM Also serves sandwiches, organic juice and soft drinks. WiFi access.

• Cafe Kopi | Opening Hours: 7AM Monday - midnight Also serves sandwiches, organic juice and soft drinks.

• Caffe Paradiso | Opening Hours: 7AM Monday - 11PM Also serves sandwiches. WiFi access.

• Espresso Royale - Multiple locations around town.

• Pekara 115 North Neil Street Opening from Monday to Saturday 7AM Monday - 9PM Sunday 8AM Monday - 5PM Next to Aroma Cafe in downtown Champaign. Serves a very unique selection of sandwiches and baked goods. Free WiFi is available.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Champaign-Urbana, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Champaign-Urbana. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Champaign-Urbana and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Champaign-Urbana. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Champaign-Urbana. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Champaign-Urbana: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Champaign-Urbana.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Champaign-Urbana: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Champaign-Urbana, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Champaign-Urbana.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Champaign-Urbana, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Champaign-Urbana, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Champaign-Urbana and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Champaign-Urbana, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Champaign-Urbana, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Champaign-Urbana without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Champaign-Urbana is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Champaign-Urbana.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Champaign-Urbana is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Champaign-Urbana, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Champaign-Urbana Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Champaign-Urbana

eHalal Group Champaign-Urbana is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Champaign-Urbana. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Champaign-Urbana.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Champaign-Urbana ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Champaign-Urbana. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Champaign-Urbana, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Champaign-Urbana are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels/Resorts

Many national chains have a hotel in the area, though only a couple are within walking distance of campus. The area also has a fairly nice Couchsurfing community , but a lack of visitors. Because of this you are likely to find plenty of couchsurfers willing to host you in their homes and show you around the town.

• The Illini Union Hotel | iu-@ 1401 W. Green St. Urbana ☎ +1 217 333-3030 $94-170 Located in the center of the University of Illinois campus and adjacent to campustown and the Illini Union offers guests the unusual experience of sleeping in a student union -- in this case, a grand colonial building built in 1939 on the north end of the University's main quad. This location grants guests access to the on site bowling alley, video games, food court, art gallery, reading rooms and lounges, walk-in massage clinic, and other amenities (additional charges apply). Room rate includes continental breakfast, local phone calls, and one extremely good parking place. Often completely booked far in advance.Accepts reservations by e-mail.

• Comfort Inn | 305 Market View Dr. Champaign near I-74 and I-57 ☎ +1 217 352-4055 - Has a restaurant/bar in the lobby which opens at 5PM.

• Econo Lodge Inn Suites | 914 W. Bloomington Rd. Champaign ☎ +1 217 356-6000 - Affordable lodgings in a quiet, relaxing and comfortable setting. Secure Online Reservations.

• Sleep Inn | 1908 N. Lincoln Ave. Urbana located on Lincoln Avenue, right off Interstate 74, exit 183 ☎ +1 217 367-6000 - Close to the University of Illinois, Carle Medical Center and the Champaign County Fairgrounds, and Market Place Mall.

Other hotels include:

• Hampton Inn
• Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express
• Marriott Courtyard
• Hilton Gardens
• Best Western
• Red Roof Inn
• Baymont
• Hawthorne (Conference Center)

Telecommunications in Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana has a large number of free Wi-Fi hotspots.

More Muslim friendly Destinations from Champaign-Urbana

A number of day trips are an easy trip from Champaign-Urbana, but many day-trip destinations are notable for their eccentricity or are otherwise offbeat.

• Monticello (Illinois) | Monticello, 20 minutes west via I-72. Features Allerton Park, is a University facility containing a Georgian-style mansion, large formal gardens, and some nature trails.
• A variety of Amish tourism destinations surround the town of Arcola (Illinois) | Arcola, a 30-minutes drive south on I-57. This area represents one of the largest concentrations of Amish in the United States. The attractions can be surreal, and include an Amish theme park (almost a contradiction in terms) called Rockome Gardens where it is feasible to pay to play tic-tac-toe with a Chicken. Other destinations include local Amish businesses selling specialties like Shoo-Fly Pie, Apple Butter, quilts, and hand-made furniture. (Note that Amish goods have a reputation for being extremely well-made, not for being bargains.) More information and directions are available from the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center.
• The town of Arcola (Illinois) | Arcola itself is also home to the official / Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum, as well as the world's only Hippie Memorial, a 62-foot monument erected by local eccentric Bob Moomaw (worth driving by if the weather is good).Arcola also boasts the world's largest broom and brush museum.
• Rantoul is 12 miles north on I-57 or US-45. On the south side of Rantoul is the site of the former Chanute Air Force Base. Now it is the site of the Chanute Air Museum. The museum contains traditional indoor exhibits as well as a broad collection of aviation equipment and aircraft from the World War II perioid up to a F-15A jet.
• Chicago is a little over two hours north by car.
• Street Louit is a few hours away by car.
• Memphit is 7.5 hours away by Megabus or ~7 hours away by car.

Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd.
To Advertise or sponsor this Travel Guide, please visit our Media Kit and Advertising Rates.

|