Champaign is a lively, walkable college city anchored by the University of Illinois with museums, live music, breweries, farm‑to‑table restaurants, parks and seasonal festivals—comfortable for multi‑week stays and active enough to keep you entertained between shifts.
Urbana is essentially contiguous and adds campustown nightlife and cafes, while Bloomington‑Normal (~45 miles) offers larger‑city dining, entertainment and an airport for easy weekend escapes.