This 137.6-mile drive from Mattoon, IL to Peoria, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 33 minutes. With 97% of the route on highways, it's a very efficient journey, making it ideal as a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $22, which is quite reasonable for a drive of this length. You'll primarily be on I-74 and I-57, with a brief section on Charleston Avenue. This highway-focused route through the Midwest is designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
68.8 miles from Mattoon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
85.8 mi
1h 33m
I 57
47.7 mi
51m
Charleston Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
IL 29
0.2 mi
<1m
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North 15th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Spalding Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 85.8 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mattoon, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on this road
115 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·North 15th Street
3
Turn left onto IL 16
2.8 mi·5 min·Charleston Avenue
4
Turn right
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
Merge onto I 57
48 mi·51 min·I 57
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 237BToward I 74 West: Peoria
7
Merge onto I 74
51 mi·55 min·I 74
8
Take the exit onto I 74
28 mi·30 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.0 mi·7 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
10
Take the exit onto IL 29
0.2 mi·23 sec·IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
11
Continue on Spalding Avenue
452 ft·20 sec·Spalding Avenue
12
Turn left onto IL 29
0.2 mi·16 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 33 minutes and the highway-focused nature, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You'll want to consider leaving earlier in the day to avoid potential rush hour traffic, especially as you approach Peoria. With only one stop recommended and a fuel cost around $22, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 85.8-mile stretch on I-74, to ensure you don't need to search for a station unexpectedly.
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 68.8 miles from Mattoon, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.8 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 17m 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 5m
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 Mattoon, 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 Mattoon, IL
This is one driving day of about 137.6 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Mattoon, 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 74 for about 85.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 137.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 15th Street
Turn right onto North 15th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 16 / Charleston Avenue
Turn left onto IL 16 / Charleston Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
50.8 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 237B
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Turn left onto IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.51 one way
$43.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.62
$47.24
premium
$4.89
$26.48
$52.96
diesel
$5.61
$30.38
$60.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.60
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.04
$5.50
EV Truck/SUV
55
0
$19.26
$8.81
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 17, 2026
Origin
Mattoon, IL
Late night
in Mattoon on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
SSE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
69°F
Empire, IL
69 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
12 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 33m 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 a highway-focused experience for the vast majority of this drive, with 97% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-74 and I-57. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 85.8 miles on I-74, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. This isn't a route for winding backroads; it's built for steady progress. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, making for a predictable and generally smooth driving experience as you move across Illinois.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.8 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 57. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 15th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 137.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (North 15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 16 / Charleston Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 2h 33m. Total distance: 137.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m 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 85.8 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (North 15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 16 / Charleston Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Peoria, IL before heading back.
