Fox Lake, IL to North Peoria, IL is 196.8 miles and takes about 3h 51m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest's northern reaches toward its central plains. Expect a straightforward drive that's almost entirely on major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. With a recommended one-day duration, you can easily complete this run without needing to stop overnight.
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
98.4 miles from Fox Lake, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,093 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,450
Quietest
2 AM
~146 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 43 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 Fox Lake, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on this road
67 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right
58 ft·8 sec
3
Turn left onto US 12
4.1 mi·4 min·US 12
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi·26 sec·US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi·7 sec·US 12; IL 59
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
14 mi·20 min·US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward IL 53 SouthUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto IL 53
4.4 mi·5 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi·9 min·IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
20 mi·25 min·I 355
Exit 7Toward I 355 South Tollway: JolietUse the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 12AToward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Joliet Road SouthUse the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 55
105 mi·1 hr 55 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
22
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
23
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this route is only 196.8 miles and takes under 4 hours, leaving anytime in the morning should allow you to reach North Peoria with plenty of daylight. You'll want to budget around $30 for fuel, so check gas prices before you depart. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll find ample opportunities for breaks along the interstate. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 74 to local roads as you approach Peoria; this is where you'll want to be most attentive to navigation.
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 98.4 miles from Fox Lake, IL, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 43 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.4 miles or 2h 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 10m
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 Fox Lake, 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 Fox Lake, IL
This is one driving day of about 196.8 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Fox Lake, 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 105.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.7 and 54.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
22.7 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the ramp toward IL 53 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 53 South
8
27.4 mi into trip|~37m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
34.4 mi into trip|~46m in|I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
8
54.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
7
54.7 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Joliet Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Joliet Road South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.02 one way
$60.05 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$33.07
$66.14
premium
$4.81
$37.24
$74.47
diesel
$5.40
$41.86
$83.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59
0
$20.66
$9.45
Efficient EV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
EV Truck/SUV
78.7
0
$27.55
$12.60
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Fox Lake, IL
Night
in Fox Lake on Saturday
Local time
11:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Night
in North Peoria on Saturday
Local time
11:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
ENE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
34 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 51m 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.
Pullman National Historical Park
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 54.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 196.8 miles on major routes like the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 105.2 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. After the highway portion concludes, you'll transition to surface roads for the final segment into North Peoria. Be prepared for frequent exits and merges as you navigate this primarily expressway-based route.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.2 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 22.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 14 significant decision points across 196.8 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 22.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Fox Lake, IL and North Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Joliet Road South.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 196.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.2 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. 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 22.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
