Lemont, IL to Peoria, IL is 145.2 miles and takes about 2h 43m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive that's almost entirely on highways, making it a straightforward journey. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this route is well-suited for a same-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace without feeling rushed.
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
72.6 miles from Lemont, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Lemont, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on West New Avenue
481 ft·14 sec·West New Avenue
2
Turn left onto Lockport Street
138 ft·2 sec·Lockport Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn slight left onto East Illinois Street
490 ft·15 sec·East Illinois Street
4
Turn left onto State Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Street
5
Continue on Lemont Road
3.0 mi·4 min·Lemont Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
107 mi·1 hr 58 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
With a drive time under three hours, this route offers excellent flexibility for a same-day excursion. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic leaving the Chicago metropolitan area, especially if you're starting from Lemont. You'll have plenty of daylight to complete the 145.2-mile trip, making a single stop for fuel or a quick break sufficient. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway is over 100 miles, so planning your refill before that segment could be wise.
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 72.6 miles from Lemont, IL, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.2 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.6 miles or 1h 22m 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 13m
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 Lemont, 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 Lemont, IL
This is one driving day of about 145.2 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Lemont, 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 107.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 145 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Lockport Street
Turn left onto Lockport Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~6m 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
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
5
138.8 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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
145 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Turn left onto IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.70 one way
$45.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.92
$49.85
premium
$4.89
$27.94
$55.88
diesel
$5.61
$32.06
$64.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.6
0
$15.25
$6.97
Efficient EV
36.3
0
$12.70
$5.81
EV Truck/SUV
58.1
0
$20.33
$9.29
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Lemont, IL
Morning
in Lemont on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Peoria, IL
Morning
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 13 mph96% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
67°F
Reading, IL
73 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 43m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey taking place on major expressways and interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 107.2 miles. The route is characterized by its efficiency, designed for covering distance quickly rather than for leisurely sightseeing. Expect smooth sailing on well-maintained roads that prioritize speed and direct travel between your starting and ending points.
97% 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: 107.2 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lockport Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 43m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lockport Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 107.2 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lockport Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
