Mount Carmel, IL to North Peoria, IL is 242.1 miles and takes about 5h 4m via I-57 and I-74, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Illinois. Expect a route that's mostly highway driving, making for a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day drive, you can easily complete this in a single stretch. It's a practical option for moving between these two Illinois locations without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121 miles from Mount Carmel, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
86.5 mi
1h 34m
I 57
47.4 mi
50m
IL 33
36.3 mi
53m
500E
24 mi
32m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
State Route 15
10.6 mi
15m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 34m
Traffic on I-74
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,516 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,778
Quietest
2 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Mount Carmel, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on East 5th Street
74 ft·5 sec·East 5th Street
2
Turn right onto North Market Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Market Street
3
Turn left onto IL 1
1.3 mi·1 min·East 9th Street
4
Continue on IL 15
11 mi·15 min·State Route 15
5
Continue on IL 15
0.6 mi·57 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on IL 15
0.6 mi·49 sec·920N
7
Continue on IL 15
0.2 mi·19 sec·910N
8
Continue on IL 15
2.6 mi·3 min·900N
9
Continue on IL 15
0.4 mi·40 sec·East Elm Street
10
Turn right onto IL 130
24 mi·32 min·500E
11
Continue on IL 130; IL 250
2.5 mi·4 min·South West Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
13
Continue on IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
14
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
36 mi·53 min·IL 33; IL 130
15
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
16
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
17
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
18
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
19
Merge onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·I 57
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 237BToward I 74 West: Peoria
21
Merge onto I 74
51 mi·55 min·I 74
22
Take the exit onto I 74
28 mi·30 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
25
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
26
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 4m duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. There's one recommended stop, so plan for a single break, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 86.5-mile stretch on I-74, as services might be less frequent. The $37 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to budget slightly more for peace of mind.
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 121 miles from Mount Carmel, IL, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 53 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
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 Mount Carmel, 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 Mount Carmel, IL
This is one driving day of about 242.1 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Mount Carmel, 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 86.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 233.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Market Street
Turn right onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
4
16.8 mi into trip|~25m in|IL 130 / 500E
Turn right onto IL 130 / 500E
Navigation decision point
5
153.4 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 237B
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
4
205.2 mi into trip|~4h 21m in|I 74
Take the exit onto I 74 toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
233.7 mi into trip|~4h 52m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.93 one way
$73.87 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$40.68
$81.36
premium
$4.81
$45.81
$91.62
diesel
$5.40
$51.50
$103.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.6
0
$25.42
$11.62
Efficient EV
60.5
0
$21.18
$9.68
EV Truck/SUV
96.8
1
$33.89
$15.49
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Mount Carmel, IL
Night
in Mount Carmel on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Night
in North Peoria on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 7:32PM CDT until April 30 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 7:32PM CDT until May 2 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
1 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
5h 4m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 77% of the 242.1 miles on major interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 86.5 miles on I-74, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur as you approach your destination in North Peoria. Expect a practical driving experience focused on efficient travel.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.5 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Market 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 242.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (IL 130 / 500E): Navigation decision point; at 153.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 242.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.5 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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: near the start (North Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (IL 130 / 500E): Navigation decision point; at 153.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at North Peoria, IL before the return drive.
