Willard University Airport

Overview

University of Illinois Willard Airport is a medium airport serving Savoy in the United States, just south of the Champaign-Urbana area. Known by the codes CMI and KCMI, it provides a practical gateway for visitors heading to the University of Illinois, regional business destinations, and communities across central Illinois. Its elevation of 755 feet above sea level is mainly a technical detail for pilots, but for passengers the more noticeable advantage is a straightforward, less hectic airport experience than many larger hubs.

Airfield facts

• Airport codes: CMI (IATA) and KCMI (ICAO)
• Time zone: America/Chicago
• Runway 04/22: 6,502 feet, concrete, lighted
• Runway 14L/32R: 8,101 feet, concrete, lighted
• Runway 14R/32L: 3,816 feet, asphalt, lighted

What this means for travelers

For travelers, Willard Airport’s layout and infrastructure suggest reliability and easy ground handling rather than sheer scale. The airport’s three lighted runways support operations in a range of conditions, and the longest runway, at 8,101 feet, gives the field solid operating flexibility for a regional airport. If you are arriving for a campus visit, a business trip, or a short stay in Savoy and nearby Champaign-Urbana, CMI is best thought of as a convenient local entry point where shorter distances and a calmer pace can make arrival and departure simpler.

Local orientation

Because the airport serves Savoy and operates on America/Chicago time, it is well aligned with the daily rhythm of central Illinois travel. That matters when planning early departures, evening arrivals, or onward connections by road. Visitors should still check flight timing carefully during seasonal weather shifts, but overall Willard Airport is most useful for travelers who value proximity to the area over the scale and complexity of a major metropolitan airport.