Hickory Hills, IL to Peoria, IL is 154.2 miles and takes about 2h 58m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Illinois. The majority of this drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. With a recommended single day for travel, you can expect a relatively quick transit between these two locations. Plan for a simple drive that doesn't require extensive overnight stops.
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
77.1 miles from Hickory Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Hickory Hills, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on 91st Street
101 ft·6 sec·91st Street
2
Turn right onto 83rd Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·83rd Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto West 87th Street
1.4 mi·3 min·West 87th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto US 12; US 20; US 45
2.4 mi·3 min·La Grange Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
115 mi·2 hr 8 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.0 mi·7 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
11
Take the exit onto IL 29
0.2 mi·23 sec·IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
12
Continue on Spalding Avenue
452 ft·20 sec·Spalding Avenue
13
Turn left onto IL 29
0.2 mi·16 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the under three-hour drive time, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour traffic around Hickory Hills. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 114 miles, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly, perhaps before you get too far onto the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. With only one recommended stop and a short overall duration, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience and enjoy a relaxed pace.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.1 miles from Hickory Hills, IL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.8 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.1 miles or 1h 31m 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 27m
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 Hickory Hills, 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 Hickory Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 154.2 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Hickory Hills, 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 114.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 119.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|West 87th Street
At end of road, turn left onto West 87th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~5m in|US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road
Turn right onto US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
4.6 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South
5
5 mi into trip|~10m in|I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
119.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.11 one way
$48.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.47
$52.94
premium
$4.89
$29.67
$59.35
diesel
$5.61
$34.05
$68.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.3
0
$16.19
$7.40
Efficient EV
38.6
0
$13.49
$6.17
EV Truck/SUV
61.7
0
$21.59
$9.87
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 20, 2026
Origin
Hickory Hills, IL
Morning
in Hickory Hills on Tuesday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, IL
Morning
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Reading, IL
77 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
5 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
2h 58m on the road
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 96% highway, so you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. You'll cover a significant 114.8 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. Expect dense exits and merging traffic as you navigate these primary routes. The transition to surface streets will occur only in the final miles as you approach Peoria.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.8 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West 87th 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 154.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 (West 87th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 2h 58m. Total distance: 154.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 114.8 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West 87th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Peoria, IL before heading back.
