Du Quoin to Peoria is 222.5 miles and takes about 4 hours 22 minutes via I-55, I-155, and I-64, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving north through the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, so pack some good tunes or podcasts for the 4-hour haul. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss.
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
111.2 miles from Du Quoin, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m 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
IL 154
7.6 mi
11m
I 74
7 mi
8m
Front Street
4.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 93.2 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Du Quoin, IL and 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
6.0 mi·7 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
19
Take the exit onto IL 29
0.2 mi·23 sec·IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
20
Continue on Spalding Avenue
452 ft·20 sec·Spalding Avenue
21
Turn left onto IL 29
0.2 mi·16 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 22-minute duration, starting your trip in the morning from Du Quoin will allow you to reach Peoria with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a highway-focused profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 93.2-mile stretch on I-55, as services can sometimes be spaced out on longer interstate segments. Planning for your fuel stop before that longest stretch will ensure a smooth journey.
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 111.2 miles from Du Quoin, IL, or about 2h 20m 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 111.2 miles or 2h 20m 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 37m
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 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 222.5 miles and 4h 22m.
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
$34.79 one way
$69.57 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.19
$76.39
premium
$4.89
$42.82
$85.64
diesel
$5.61
$49.13
$98.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.36
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.6
0
$19.47
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.15
$14.24
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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Du Quoin, IL
Morning
in Du Quoin on Tuesday
Local time
7:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, IL
Morning
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
7:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Rain Showers Likely
NW 13 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
67°F
Hillsboro, IL
111 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
28 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 22m 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
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 153.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-55, I-155, and I-64. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one uninterrupted segment of 93.2 miles on I-55. Expect a predictable driving experience with limited turns and mostly straightaways. The character remains largely consistent throughout the 4-hour journey, prioritizing direct travel over meandering scenic byways.
87% 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 222.5 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.
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 Peoria, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Hartsburg along the way.
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 22m. Total distance: 222.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
