Albion, IL to Peoria, IL is 223.3 miles and takes about 4h 35m via I-57 and I-74, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest as you head north. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward connection between these two points. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, getting you to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.7 miles from Albion, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
85.8 mi
1h 33m
I 57
47.4 mi
50m
IL 33
36.3 mi
53m
500E
24.1 mi
32m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
South West Street
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 85.8 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-74
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,516 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,778
Quietest
2 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albion, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on IL 15; IL 130
24 mi·32 min·500E
2
Continue on IL 130; IL 250
2.5 mi·4 min·South West Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
4
Continue on IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
5
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
36 mi·53 min·IL 33; IL 130
6
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
7
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
8
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
10
Merge onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·I 57
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 237BToward I 74 West: Peoria
12
Merge onto I 74
51 mi·55 min·I 74
13
Take the exit onto I 74
28 mi·30 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.0 mi·7 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
15
Take the exit onto IL 29
0.2 mi·23 sec·IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
16
Continue on Spalding Avenue
452 ft·20 sec·Spalding Avenue
17
Turn left onto IL 29
0.2 mi·16 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 35m drive, consider departing in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With a total distance of 223.3 miles and only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 85.8-mile stretch on I-74, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $35, so plan accordingly. This route is mostly highway, so traffic is generally predictable, but always check local conditions before you leave Albion.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.7 miles from Albion, IL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.7 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albion, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albion, IL
This is one driving day of about 223.3 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Albion, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 85.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 136.6 and 223.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
136.6 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 237B
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
4
188.5 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|I 74
Take the exit onto I 74 toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
216.9 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
4
222.9 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|IL 29
Take the exit onto IL 29 toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
5
223.2 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Turn left onto IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.98 one way
$65.95 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.40
$72.81
premium
$4.72
$41.46
$82.92
diesel
$4.80
$42.16
$84.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67
0
$23.45
$10.72
Efficient EV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
EV Truck/SUV
89.3
1
$31.26
$14.29
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Albion, IL
Late night
in Albion on Monday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
W 9 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:04PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 12:23PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Monday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 9 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:04PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 12:23PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 78% of this 223.3-mile drive, primarily using I-57 and I-74. The longest continuous stretch on these highways is 85.8 miles on I-74, so expect extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you near your destination in Peoria, offering a change in pace. This route features a high percentage of highway miles, meaning fewer turns and more consistent speeds.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.8 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 57. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 136.6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 223.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 136.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 188.5 miles (I 74): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 216.9 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Peoria is a city in Illinois and the county seat of Peoria County. It serves as a regional hub for the primarily rural and agricultural center of the state. Peoria is a small but diverse city of approximately 115,000 people that anchors a three-county metropolitan area of nearly 400,000.
Top landmarks
•Madison Theatre — theater and former movie theater in Peoria, Illinois, United States
•Hotel Père Marquette — hotel in downtown Peoria, Illinois
•Illinois Waterway Project Office — U.S. Army Core of Engineers facility in Peoria, Illinois
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 35m. Total distance: 223.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.8 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 136.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 188.5 miles (I 74): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 216.9 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
