The drive from Crest Hill, IL to North Peoria, IL covers 171.6 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, I 155, I 74 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 116.2 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.8 miles from Crest Hill, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
116.2 mi
2h 6m
I 155
32 mi
34m
I 74
7.7 mi
9m
I 255
7.2 mi
8m
Old Saint Louis Road
1.9 mi
3m
North Knoxville Avenue
1 mi
1m
New Missouri Avenue
0.8 mi
<1m
South 88th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 116.2 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,843 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,269
Quietest
2 AM
~164 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Crest Hill, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on Belvedere Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Belvedere Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Bethesda Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·Bethesda Drive
3
Turn right onto Bernard Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Bernard Drive
4
Turn straight onto Eiler Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·Eiler Road
5
Turn left onto IL 13
1.9 mi·3 min·Old Saint Louis Road
6
Enter roundabout onto IL 157
17 ft·0 sec·South 88th Street
7
Continue on IL 157
0.8 mi·1 min·South 88th Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
9
Merge onto IL 15
0.8 mi·56 sec·New Missouri Avenue
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 255; US 50
7.2 mi·8 min·I 255; US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North, I 70 East: Indianapolis, Chicago
13
Merge onto I 55; I 70; US 40
8.3 mi·9 min·I 55; I 70; US 40
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
108 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
Exit 127Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
17
Merge onto I 74
1.0 mi·1 min·I 74
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
20
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
21
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
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 85.8 miles from Crest Hill, IL, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.2 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.8 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Peoria, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Crest Hill, 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 Crest Hill, IL
This is one driving day of about 171.6 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Crest Hill, 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 55 for about 116.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 129.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Bethesda Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Bethesda Drive
Navigation decision point
5
4.5 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 255 North, US 50 North: Chicago
5
5.1 mi into trip|~10m in|I 255; US 50
Merge onto I 255; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.4 mi into trip|~29m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springf...
7
129.3 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|I 155
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155 toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 127
Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.18 one way
$52.36 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$28.83
$57.67
premium
$4.81
$32.47
$64.94
diesel
$5.40
$36.50
$73.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.5
0
$18.02
$8.24
Efficient EV
42.9
0
$15.01
$6.86
EV Truck/SUV
68.6
0
$24.02
$10.98
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 25, 2026
Origin
Crest Hill, IL
Morning
in Crest Hill on Sunday
Local time
8:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT until May 1 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
8:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT until May 1 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
63°F
Springfield, IL
86 mi in
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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 15m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 100.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
171.6 mi in 3h 15m, mostly highway — 116.2 mi of that is on I 55.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Bethesda Drive.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 171.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Bethesda Drive): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Crest Hill, IL and North Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City and Hartsburg.
Chicago
12.3 mi in|~18m
Springfield
21.4 mi in|~29m|via I 55
Kansas City
21.4 mi in|~29m|via I 55
Hartsburg
129.3 mi in|~2h 26m|via I 155
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 171.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at North Peoria, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Bethesda Drive): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
