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Trip from Hillsboro, IL to Peoria, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 21m

Distance

124.7 mi

201 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 12m ★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Hillsboro, IL, IL

Hillsboro, IL

Quang Vuong

Downtown Peoria, IL, IL

Peoria, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 124.7-mile drive from Hillsboro, IL, to Peoria, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. The route is predominantly highway, with 91% of the journey on major roads, making it a quick and efficient transit through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of around $20, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, you won't need to worry about overnight stops, offering flexibility for your departure time.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

62.4 miles from Hillsboro, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 73.9 mi 1h 20m
I 155 32 mi 34m
Springfield Road 7.4 mi 10m
I 74 7 mi 8m
East Union Avenue 2.2 mi 3m
County Road 1200 N 0.4 mi <1m
IL 29 0.2 mi <1m
Northeast Jefferson Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 73.9 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hillsboro, IL and Peoria, IL.

1

Start on West Seward Street

279 ft · 17 sec · West Seward Street
2

Turn left onto IL 16; IL 127

105 ft · 1 sec · South Hamilton Street
3

Turn slight left onto IL 16; IL 127

7.4 mi · 10 min · Springfield Road
4

Continue on IL 16

2.2 mi · 3 min · East Union Avenue
5

Continue on IL 16

0.4 mi · 42 sec · County Road 1200 N
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 55 North: Springfield
7

Merge onto I 55

74 mi · 1 hr 20 min · I 55
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 155

32 mi · 34 min · I 155
Exit 127 Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
10

Merge onto I 74

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 74
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 74

6.0 mi · 7 min · I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
12

Take the exit onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 23 sec · IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
13

Continue on Spalding Avenue

452 ft · 20 sec · Spalding Avenue
14

Turn left onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

Northeast Jefferson Avenue

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour and 21-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Since it's a relatively short trip with a low estimated fuel cost of $20, planning for extensive stops isn't necessary, but be aware of the 73.9-mile stretch on I 55 where you'll be on the highway for an extended period. It's wise to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that longer segment. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the heaviest commuter traffic in any urban areas you might pass through.

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 62.4 miles from Hillsboro, IL, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 27 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 62.4 miles or 1h 12m 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 55m

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 Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, IL

This is one driving day of about 124.7 miles and 2h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Hillsboro, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 73.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Riverton, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Riverton, IL

62 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Auburn, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grandview, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.4 miles from Hillsboro, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Haddad's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Peoria, Illinois

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+13096725339

Cancun

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Sherman, Illinois

1 mi

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Springfield, Illinois

1.8 mi

Haddad's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+13096725339

Taco Bell

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Litchfield, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+12173245855

Visit website

Cancun

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 1 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Sherman, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12174963221

Visit website

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+12175445144

Visit website

Mr Gyros

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+12175232817

El Quetzalito Mexican Restaurant

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Divernon, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12176280000

Visit website

Krekel's Custard & Hamburgers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Grandview, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+12175254952

Visit website

Chatham Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Chatham, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+12176971101

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

InCharge Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Morton, Illinois

+13092913039

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Peoria, Illinois

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

Circle K Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Morton, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18335052291

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13094948850

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 124.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street

Turn left onto IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street

Navigation decision point

7
84.4 mi into trip | ~1h 36m 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
116.4 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West: Peoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
118.3 mi into trip | ~2h 13m 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
124.6 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in | IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue

Turn left onto IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.50 one way

$38.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $21.41 $42.81
premium $4.89 $24.00 $47.99
diesel $5.61 $27.53 $55.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.4 0 $13.09 $5.99
Efficient EV 31.2 0 $10.91 $4.99
EV Truck/SUV 49.9 0 $17.46 $7.98

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (66% 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 21, 2026

Origin

Hillsboro, IL

Morning in Hillsboro on Tuesday

Local time

7:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Mostly Clear

S 6 to 9 mph 0% chance Live 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

Destination

Peoria, IL

Morning in Peoria on Tuesday

Local time

7:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Partly Cloudy

S 6 to 9 mph 0% chance Live 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

71°F

Riverton, IL

62 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

1 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 21m 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.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

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 55.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 124.7-mile trip, with 91% of the route utilizing major interstates and roads like I 55 and I 155. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.9 miles on I 55, providing a solid period of consistent driving. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of Springfield Road suggests a potential shift in scenery or road type as you approach your destination. This route generally offers a predictable and efficient driving experience, minimizing time spent on slower, more winding local roads.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.9 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 124.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street): Navigation decision point; at 84.4 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Hillsboro, IL to Peoria, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Hartsburg along the way.

Hartsburg

84.4 mi in | ~1h 36m | via I 155

About the Cities

Starting in Hillsboro, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1823

Top landmarks

  • • Montgomery County Courthouse — courthouse in Illinois, United States

Arriving in Peoria, IL

Full guide →

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

  • • 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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 124.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street): Navigation decision point; at 84.4 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. 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.

How this page is built

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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