Caffe De Luca
Near the start, right off the route
Forest Park, Illinois
Hours: 12–9 pm
+17083669200
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
162.3 mi
261 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Peoria, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 162.3-mile journey from Forest Park, IL, to Peoria, IL, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I-74, and the Veterans Memorial Tollway, this highway-focused route offers a straightforward path through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a visit to Peoria. The drive is efficient, making it ideal for those looking to maximize their time at their destination rather than on the road.
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
81.2 miles from Forest Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 105.2 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 74 | 33.4 mi | 36m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 8.6 mi | 10m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 7.6 mi | 9m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Des Plaines Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| IL 29 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northeast Jefferson Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Park, IL and Peoria, IL.
Start on Madison Street
Turn left onto Des Plaines Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Take the exit
Merge onto I 355
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit
Continue on I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
Take the exit onto IL 29
Continue on Spalding Avenue
Turn left onto IL 29
Arrive at destination
Given the manageable 3-hour duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Consider an early morning departure to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially when navigating the initial expressways around the Chicago metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey; however, ensure you're fueled up before hitting the longest stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The $25 fuel estimate suggests keeping an eye on your gas gauge, particularly if you deviate from the main roads.
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.
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 36 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.2 miles or 1h 35m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Forest Park, 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 Forest Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 162.3 miles and 3h 5m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 81.2 miles from Forest Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop
Forest Park, Illinois
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 12–9 pm
+17083669200
Piacere Mio Italian Restaurant
Forest Park, Illinois
Habrae Thai dessert cafe & restaurant
Forest Park, Illinois
Best coffee break · early in the drive
Crest Hill, Illinois
Early in the drive, short detour
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+18156303694
Friendly Coffee Lounge
Berwyn, Illinois
Ten Drops Coffee
Plainfield, Illinois
Near the start, right off the route
Forest Park, Illinois
Hours: 12–9 pm
+17083669200
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Forest Park, Illinois
Hours: 4–9 pm
+17083664010
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Forest Park, Illinois
Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm
+17086898852
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Plainfield, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm
+18157826500
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Peoria, Illinois
Hours: 11:30 am–8 pm
+13096431089
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Oak Park, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+17086132999
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Downers Grove, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13312159463
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Oak Park, Illinois
Hours: 4:30–10 pm
+17089487328
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Crest Hill, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+18156303694
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Berwyn, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–1 pm
+17084849794
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Plainfield, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–5 pm
+16306962137
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Braidwood, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–12 pm
+18153905133
Early in the drive, short detour
Shorewood, Illinois
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+18156304235
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Coal City, Illinois
Hours: 8 am–12 pm
+18155185375
Early in the drive, short detour
Joliet, Illinois
Hours: 9 am–9 pm
+18476271095
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~10 min detour
Channahon, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
+12176638389
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Normal, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
East Peoria, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Normal, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887484261
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Normal, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887484273
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
East Peoria, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
Later in the drive, right off the route
Normal, Illinois
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
East Peoria, Illinois
Near the end, right off the route
Peoria, Illinois
Early in the drive, ~11 min detour
Minooka, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18154672200
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
Willowbrook, Illinois
Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.1 and 22.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 355 South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Joliet Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$25.37 one way
$50.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.86 | $55.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $31.23 | $62.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.83 | $71.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.04 | $7.79 |
| Efficient EV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.20 | $6.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.72 | $10.39 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Forest Park on Tuesday
Local time
10:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
10:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect an 88% highway-focused experience on this route, characterized by swift travel. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 105.2 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, allowing for consistent momentum. The drive largely consists of interstate travel, offering a predictable and efficient way to cover ground. While primarily a highway experience, the transition onto I-74 will guide you toward your destination in Peoria.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in near I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 162.3 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 5.1 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Forest Park, IL and Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Joliet Road South.
Saint Louis
Joliet Road South
Founded 1680
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 162.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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