Pekin, IL Road Trips
Pekin, IL serves as a quiet starting point in the Midwest, connecting drivers to 5 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 12-mile quick runs to 183-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Pekin, IL spread mainly east and north, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
7
Longest Drive
193.9 mi
York, IL
Quickest Drive
16m
Peoria, IL
Plan Around Pekin, IL
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Pekin, IL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Pekin, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Pekin, IL
Driving from Pekin, IL
On average, trips departing from Pekin, IL run 94 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 51m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 183 miles (3h 39m), while the shortest is just 12 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Pekin, IL most often head toward Evanston, IL (182.5 mi, 3h 39m), Cicero, IL (164.6 mi, 3h 10m), Springfield, IL (67.3 mi, 1h 20m), Bloomington, IL (43.5 mi, 52m), and Peoria, IL (12 mi, 16m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in IL currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 94-mile trip from Pekin, IL, budget about $14 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 5 mapped routes leaving Pekin, IL and 2 routes heading into Pekin, IL, covering 7 total connections. Distances range from 12 to 183 miles.
The longest mapped route from Pekin, IL covers 183 miles and takes approximately 3h 39m. Shorter options start at just 12 miles.
The average route from Pekin, IL runs about 94 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 51m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 94-mile trip from Pekin, IL costs roughly $14 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Pekin, IL include Evanston, IL, Cicero, IL, Springfield, IL and Bloomington, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Pekin, IL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
31,812
Median Income
$58,355
Median Home Value
$118,200
Median Age
41.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Pekin, IL at a Glance
Founded
1829
Elevation
1,765 ft
Area
15 mi²
Notable People from Pekin, IL
A sampling of people born in Pekin, IL.
Susan Dey
1952
American actress
Everett Dirksen
1896–1969
American politician (1896–1969)
Ormond Stone
1847–1933
American astronomer (1847–1933)
Erik Brann
1950–2003
American guitarist (1950-2003)
Henry Andrews Bumstead
1870–1920
American physicist (1870–1920)
Sol Bloom
1870–1949
American politician (1870–1949)
Ethyl Eichelberger
1945–1990
American drag queen (1945-1990)
Jack Wallace
1933–2020
American actor (1933-2020)
Hank Bruder
1907–1970
American football player (1907-1970)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Pekin, IL.
Carl Herget Mansion
historic house in Illinois, United States
Pekin Federal Building
historic government building in Pekin, Illinois
St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad Depot
historic train station in Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois
Tazewell County Courthouse
local government building in the United States
North Eighth Street Plaza
historic strip mall in Pekin, Illinois, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q578328), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
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Curated day trips, weekend getaways, and overnight routes — grouped by how much time you have and the kind of trip you want.
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