<p>Does anyone have any experience flying into Indianapolis airport and driving to Champaign? We thought it would be a better alternative than fighting the traffic and long drive from Chicago. The Chicago airports (esp OHare) have a lot more options as far as flights.</p>
<p>It seems to be a little close and less traffic, although there are tons of big rigs on the road for some reason and I notice it more than when driving from Chicago. If you do come out of Chicago the key is to avoid rush hour times.</p>
<p>I have never driving from the Indianapolis airport, but I have driving to and from Indianapolis many times from Champaign-Urbana. it is a very easy drive. From the airport, you just head north on I-465 for like 15 min until you hit I-74, and then drive west on I-74 for about 90 min to 2 hours and you are in Urbana. Traffic on 465, depending on the time of day and day of week, is no cakewalk, but it is nothing compared to the traffic in Chicago. Flying into St. Louis is also closer than O’Hare and Midway as far as driving time is concerned. It is maybe a couple miles closer by road, but the traffic differences are astounding.</p>
<p>The Indy airport is on the NW side of the city and it is a very easy drive. If you could get a direct flight into Indy vs into O’Hare, I’d pick Indy. Getting to rental cars is easier at Indy, the traffic around Indy is less difficult than O’Hare and the drive to CU is shorter.</p>
<p>Of course, depending upon where you are coming from, there is a direct flight into Willard Airport once a day from DFW :)</p>
<p>The airport in Indy is NOT in the NW part of the area/city. It is in the SW.</p>