Lake in the Hills to North Peoria is 173.2 miles and takes about 3 hours 24 minutes via I 39 and IL 29, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving you south through the Midwest. It's a pretty straightforward drive, mostly on major roads, making it a good option if you're looking for a simple, single-day transit. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so plan for a relatively quick commute.
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
86.6 miles from Lake in the Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
63.3 mi
1h 8m
IL 29
32.6 mi
38m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
28.2 mi
30m
I 80
16.7 mi
17m
I 180
8.7 mi
9m
North Galena Road
7.3 mi
10m
Algonquin Road
4.7 mi
8m
IL 47
3.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 63.3 mi, about 1h 8m
Traffic on I-39
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,252 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,626
Quietest
midnight
~126 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 50 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 Lake in the Hills, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on West Acorn Lane
0.3 mi·1 min·West Acorn Lane
2
Turn left onto V29
0.4 mi·52 sec·North Randall Road
3
Turn right onto A48
4.7 mi·8 min·Algonquin Road
4
Turn left onto IL 47
3.5 mi·6 min·IL 47
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
6
Merge onto I 90
28 mi·30 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
8
Merge onto I 39; US 51
0.5 mi·30 sec·I 39; US 51
9
Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51
2.1 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 39; US 51
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·57 sec
Exit 59BToward I 80 West: La Salle-Peru, Des Moines
12
Merge onto I 80
17 mi·17 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 180 South: Hennepin
14
Continue on I 180
8.7 mi·9 min·I 180
15
Keep slight right at fork
2.1 mi·2 min
Toward Peoria
16
Continue on IL 29
33 mi·38 min·IL 29
17
Continue on IL 29
7.3 mi·10 min·North Galena Road
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward 150: War Memorial Drive
19
Merge onto US 150
1.1 mi·1 min·East War Memorial Drive
20
Turn left onto North Prospect Road
1.0 mi·1 min·North Prospect Road
21
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.4 mi·53 sec·East McClure Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3 hour 24 minute drive, leaving in the morning should give you plenty of time to reach North Peoria before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can decide whether to push through or break up the 173.2 miles. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider stopping midway. Keep an eye on your fuel as you near the end of the 63.3 mile stretch on I 39, as services can be more spread out on IL 29. The $26 fuel cost is a good estimate for planning.
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 86.6 miles from Lake in the Hills, IL, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 38 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 41m 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 43m
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 Lake in the 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 Lake in the Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 173.2 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Lake in the 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 I 39 for about 63.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
DePue, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+18154472198
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 9.3 and 128.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.3 mi into trip|~17m in|I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
37.5 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
6
101.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: La Salle-Peru, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59B
Toward I 80 West: La Salle-Peru, Des Moines
5
102.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Peoria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.42 one way
$52.85 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$29.10
$58.21
premium
$4.81
$32.77
$65.54
diesel
$5.40
$36.84
$73.69
Estimated Tolls: $1.98
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(28.2 mi)$1.98
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
$26
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.19
$8.31
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.15
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.25
$11.08
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 26, 2026
Origin
Lake in the Hills, IL
Late night
in Lake in the Hills on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Late night
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
43°F
Princeton, IL
87 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
7 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 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend about 72% of your time on the highway, meaning you'll cover a good chunk of the 173.2 miles on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 63.3 miles on I 39. The route transitions from the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway to I 39, and eventually to IL 29. You'll notice the shift from tollway to interstate, and then to a more rural state highway feel as you approach your destination.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.3 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and IL 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
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 14 significant decision points across 173.2 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 9.3 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.4 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.
Between Lake in the Hills, IL and North Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Des Moines and Peoria.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 173.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.3 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.98 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial 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 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 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
