This 177.3-mile drive from Kenilworth, IL to Peoria, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-74, this route is heavily focused on highway travel, with an 83% highway share. You can expect a fuel cost around $28 for this journey through the Midwest. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 113 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, so plan your breaks accordingly. Given the relatively short duration, this trip offers flexibility for departure times and 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
88.7 miles from Kenilworth, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Kenilworth, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on Park Drive
61 ft·5 sec·Park Drive
2
Turn right onto Green Bay Road
170 ft·7 sec·Green Bay Road
3
Turn right onto Kenilworth Avenue
0.4 mi·53 sec·Kenilworth Avenue
4
Turn slight left onto Ridge Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Ridge Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on Gross Point Road
4.2 mi·8 min·Gross Point Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·New Gross Point Road
7
Turn right onto Howard Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Howard Street
8
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
120 ft·2 sec·North Lehigh Avenue
9
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
0.9 mi·1 min·West Gross Point Road
10
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
4.0 mi·7 min·West Touhy Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
184 ft·3 sec·South Des Plaines River Road
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
13
Merge onto I 294
11 mi·14 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 23Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 55
113 mi·2 hr 6 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.0 mi·7 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
22
Take the exit onto IL 29
0.2 mi·23 sec·IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
23
Continue on Spalding Avenue
452 ft·20 sec·Spalding Avenue
24
Turn left onto IL 29
0.2 mi·16 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 32-minute drive, consider leaving Kenilworth in the morning to maximize your time in Peoria. With 83% of the route on highways, the longest stretch is 113 miles, so plan a fuel and rest stop around the halfway point or when you feel ready. The estimated fuel cost is $28, which is a good budget to keep in mind. Given the manageable distance, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but be aware of potential rush hour traffic if leaving Kenilworth during peak commuting times.
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 88.7 miles from Kenilworth, IL, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 39 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.7 miles or 1h 53m 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 57m
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 Kenilworth, 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 Kenilworth, IL
This is one driving day of about 177.3 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Kenilworth, 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 113 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 142.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.7 mi into trip|~12m in|Howard Street
Turn right onto Howard Street
Navigation decision point
6
27.6 mi into trip|~44m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.9 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
29.5 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
6
142.9 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
$27.72 one way
$55.44 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.43
$60.87
premium
$4.89
$34.12
$68.24
diesel
$5.61
$39.15
$78.29
Estimated Tolls: $1.05
Tri-state Tollway
(17.5 mi)$1.05
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
$28
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.2
0
$18.62
$8.51
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.51
$7.09
EV Truck/SUV
70.9
0
$24.82
$11.35
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Kenilworth, IL
Late night
in Kenilworth on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live 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
8 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 32m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 30.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 177.3-mile journey. With 83% of the route on interstates like the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-74, the pace is generally quick. You'll have a significant 113-mile stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway without needing to exit, offering a consistent driving rhythm. While primarily interstate, the transition to I-74 as you head towards Peoria will maintain the highway character for the majority of the 3-hour, 32-minute trip.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 5.7 miles in near Howard Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 177.3 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 5.7 miles (Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Kenilworth, IL to Peoria, IL, road signs begin pointing toward St. Louis along the way.
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 3h 32m. Total distance: 177.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.05 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles (Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
