Mount Greenwood, IL to North Peoria, IL is 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 7m via I 55, I 74, and I 80, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. Given its relatively short duration and highway-heavy profile, it’s a route you can easily complete in a single day. The majority of your travel will be on interstates, making for efficient progress. You can expect a predictable drive with minimal detours.
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
79.7 miles from Mount Greenwood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
86.6 mi
1h 33m
I 74
34.1 mi
37m
I 80
25.3 mi
30m
South Pulaski Road
5.5 mi
10m
I 57
2.4 mi
3m
North Knoxville Avenue
1 mi
1m
West 111th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Crawford Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 86.6 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,093 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,450
Quietest
2 AM
~146 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 43 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 Greenwood, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on South Saint Louis Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·South Saint Louis Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 111th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West 111th Street
3
Turn left onto South Pulaski Road
5.5 mi·10 min·South Pulaski Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on Crawford Avenue
0.5 mi·55 sec·Crawford Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 6
0.2 mi·25 sec·West 159th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 57 south: Kankakee
7
Merge onto I 57
2.4 mi·3 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 345BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 80
25 mi·30 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
11
Merge onto I 55
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
16
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
17
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic closer to the cities. With only one recommended stop and a short overall duration, you have the flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $24, but it’s always wise to top off before starting, especially before that long 86.6-mile stretch on I 55. You’ll likely see plenty of services along the interstate corridors.
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 79.7 miles from Mount Greenwood, IL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.6 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 35 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 38m 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 33m
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 Greenwood, 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 Greenwood, IL
This is one driving day of about 159.3 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Mount Greenwood, 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 55 for about 86.6 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 1.1 and 122.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|South Pulaski Road
Turn left onto South Pulaski Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7.8 mi into trip|~15m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10.3 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
5
10.7 mi into trip|~19m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
122.9 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
$24.30 one way
$48.61 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$26.77
$53.53
premium
$4.81
$30.14
$60.28
diesel
$5.40
$33.89
$67.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.8
0
$16.73
$7.65
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.94
$6.37
EV Truck/SUV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.20
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 26, 2026
Origin
Mount Greenwood, IL
Morning
in Mount Greenwood on Sunday
Local time
9:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
9:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
61°F
Kempton, IL
80 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
13 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 7m 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 route is 93% highway, so be prepared for consistent interstate driving. You'll encounter an 86.6-mile stretch on I 55, which is the longest continuous segment. The transition from primarily highway to surface roads will occur near the end of your trip, around mile 148. Expect a high volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you approach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near South Pulaski Road.
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 12 significant decision points across 159.3 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 1.1 miles (South Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 159.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (South Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
