Du Quoin to North Peoria is 224.5 miles and takes about 4h 26m via I-55, I-155, and I-64, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. With 86% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on interstates, making for a straightforward transit. This is a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within the state.
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
112.2 miles from Du Quoin, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
93.2 mi
1h 40m
I 155
32 mi
34m
I 64
26.6 mi
28m
IL 4
26 mi
38m
North Main Street
22 mi
27m
I 74
7.7 mi
9m
IL 154
7.6 mi
11m
Front Street
4.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 93.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,916 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,558
Quietest
2 AM
~159 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 103 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 Du Quoin, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on East Main Street
32 ft·6 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto South Washington Street
480 ft·25 sec·South Washington Street
3
Turn right onto US 51
0.4 mi·35 sec·West Poplar Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 51
0.9 mi·1 min·South Hickory Street
5
Continue on US 51
4.2 mi·6 min·Front Street
6
Turn left onto IL 154
7.6 mi·11 min·IL 154
7
Turn right onto IL 127
22 mi·27 min·North Main Street
8
Turn left
0.4 mi·48 sec
9
Merge onto I 64
27 mi·28 min·I 64
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward IL 4
11
Keep slight right at fork
181 ft·3 sec
Toward IL 4
12
Turn straight onto IL 4
26 mi·38 min·IL 4
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
14
Merge onto I 55
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
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
Given the 4h 26m estimated drive time, leaving Du Quoin in the morning should allow you to reach North Peoria with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a break during the 224.5 miles. The longest stretch on I-55 is over 90 miles, so be sure to fuel up before embarking on that segment. With only 1 stop recommended and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in your pacing.
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 112.2 miles from Du Quoin, IL, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.2 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.2 miles or 2h 21m 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 39m
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 Du Quoin, 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 Du Quoin, IL
This is one driving day of about 224.5 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Du Quoin, 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 93.2 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 216.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 51 / South Hickory Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 51 / South Hickory Street
Navigation decision point
5
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 4
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IL 4
7
182.2 mi into trip|~3h 37m 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
5
214.1 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
216.1 mi into trip|~4h 14m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.45 one way
$74.90 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$40.86
$81.72
premium
$5.25
$46.43
$92.86
diesel
$6.28
$55.47
$110.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.4
0
$23.57
$10.78
Efficient EV
56.1
0
$19.64
$8.98
EV Truck/SUV
89.8
1
$31.43
$14.37
Gas CO2
79 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Du Quoin, IL
Morning
in Du Quoin on Thursday
Local time
6:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
S 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Thursday
Local time
6:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
S 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
66°F
Hillsboro, IL
112 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
3 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
4h 26m 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.
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
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 154.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 86% of this 224.5-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 93.2 miles on I-55. Expect a good amount of highway miles before transitioning to surface roads closer to your destination. The prevalence of interstates suggests a driving experience with relatively fewer turns and more consistent speed.
86% 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: 93.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 51 / South Hickory Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 224.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.5 miles (US 51 / South Hickory Street): Navigation decision point; at 62.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 182.2 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
664 ft415 ft
Total Climb
399 ft
Total Descent
196 ft
Highest Point
664 ft
~208.5 mi in
Elevation Range
249 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Du Quoin, IL to North Peoria, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Hartsburg along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 224.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 51 / South Hickory Street): Navigation decision point; at 62.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 182.2 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
