This straightforward 75-mile drive from Forrest to Peoria, Illinois, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 31 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. You'll primarily be navigating on Interstate 74 and Interstate 55, with a brief section on East 3100 North Road contributing to the journey. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest excursion is around $12. Given its relatively short distance and direct route, no overnight stops are necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. This trip offers a no-fuss transition within the state of Illinois.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.5 miles from Forrest, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
33.4 mi
36m
I 55
22.5 mi
24m
East 3100 North Road
6.8 mi
9m
East 800 North Road
5 mi
6m
East Oak Street
2.1 mi
4m
East 820 North Road
1.7 mi
2m
East Cemetery Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
West Wabash Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 33.4 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forrest, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on IL 47
0.2 mi·40 sec·North Center Street
2
Turn right onto US 24
0.4 mi·45 sec·West Wabash Street
3
Continue on US 24
1.7 mi·2 min·East 820 North Road
4
Continue on US 24
2.6 mi·3 min·East 800 North Road
5
Continue on US 24
2.1 mi·4 min·East Oak Street
6
Continue on US 24
2.4 mi·3 min·East 800 North Road
7
Continue on US 24
6.4 mi·8 min·East 3100 North Road
8
Continue on US 24
1.5 mi·3 min·East Cemetery Avenue
9
Continue on US 24
0.3 mi·40 sec·East 3100 North Road
10
Turn left
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
11
Merge onto I 55
23 mi·24 min·I 55
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
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
For this 1-hour and 31-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of daylight. Since the total distance is only 75 miles and requires no overnight stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical trip. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-55 to I-74 as you approach Peoria; this is a key point in your navigation. Plan for minimal stops, as the drive is quite short.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.5 miles from Forrest, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.4 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.5 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
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 Forrest, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forrest, IL
This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Forrest, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 33.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.6 and 74.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.6 mi into trip|~28m in
Turn left toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
18.1 mi into trip|~29m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
40.6 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
5
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Turn left onto IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.73 one way
$23.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.87
$25.75
premium
$4.89
$14.43
$28.87
diesel
$5.61
$16.56
$33.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.5
0
$7.87
$3.60
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.56
$3.00
EV Truck/SUV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Forrest, IL
Late night
in Forrest on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:39PM CDT until April 29 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:38PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
1h 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for roughly 75% of this 75-mile trip. The route is dominated by major interstates, offering a consistent pace for most of the journey. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch on I-74, covering 33.4 miles, so be prepared for extended periods of highway driving. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of East 3100 North Road offers a slight variation before you reach your destination. It's a drive that prioritizes efficiency over winding scenic byways.
75% 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: 33.4 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 55. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 17.6 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Forrest, IL to Peoria, IL is easy. At 1h 31m with 75% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 33.4 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Peoria, IL before heading back.
