Homewood, IL to North Peoria, IL is 155.3 miles and takes about 2h 58m via I 55 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Illinois, traversing the Midwest landscape. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll find the drive straightforward, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
77.6 miles from Homewood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
86.6 mi
1h 33m
I 74
34.1 mi
37m
I 80
29.8 mi
37m
Dixie Highway
1.1 mi
2m
North Knoxville Avenue
1 mi
1m
East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Governors Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Wood Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 86.6 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-55
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 Homewood, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on 183rd Street
65 ft·9 sec·183rd Street
2
Turn left onto Dixie Highway
0.5 mi·1 min·Dixie Highway
3
Continue on Dixie Highway
0.1 mi·22 sec·Dixie Highway
4
Continue on Dixie Highway
0.5 mi·1 min·Dixie Highway
5
Turn right onto Governors Highway
0.3 mi·35 sec·Governors Highway
6
Continue on Wood Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Wood Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollway
8
Merge onto I 80; I 294
0.1 mi·9 sec·Tri-State Tollway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
30 mi·37 min·I 80
Exit 5Toward I 80 West: IowaUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
11
Merge onto I 55
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 55
Use the 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
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
16
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
17
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 2h 58m drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive well before the afternoon rush. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 155.3 miles, you have flexibility in pacing. Plan to refuel before you leave Homewood to take advantage of the estimated $24 fuel cost, as services can become less frequent on longer highway stretches. Keep an eye out for the transition to I 74, which is a key point in navigating toward North Peoria.
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 77.6 miles from Homewood, IL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.6 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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.6 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 25m
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 Homewood, 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 Homewood, IL
This is one driving day of about 155.3 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Homewood, 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 I 55 for about 86.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 118.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollway
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollwa...
8
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Iowa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
5
31.9 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 126A
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
32.3 mi into trip|~42m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
$23.69 one way
$47.38 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$26.10
$52.19
premium
$4.81
$29.38
$58.77
diesel
$5.40
$33.03
$66.07
Estimated Tolls: $0.01
Tri-state Tollway
(0.1 mi)$0.01
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
$24
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.6
0
$16.31
$7.45
Efficient EV
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
EV Truck/SUV
62.1
0
$21.74
$9.94
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 25, 2026
Origin
Homewood, IL
Morning
in Homewood on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Sunny
E 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 4:36PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 4:36PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
62°F
Pontiac, IL
78 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
31 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
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 97% of the 155.3 miles on major interstates like I 55 and I 74. You'll experience a consistent stretch of 86.6 miles on I 55 before transitioning to I 74. Expect a high density of exits and merges as you navigate between these major routes within Illinois. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur very late in your trip.
97% 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: 86.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 155.3 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 1.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 155.3 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 (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.01 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 14 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 North Peoria, IL before heading back.
