Near North Side, IL to Peoria, IL is 167.3 miles and takes about 3h 15m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway/I 74, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, taking you from the Midwest's urban edge into more central parts of the state. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward drive. Plan for a single day to complete this route efficiently.
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
83.6 miles from Near North Side, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
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 Near North Side, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on North Wells Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Wells Street
2
Turn right onto West Grand Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto North Desplaines Street
0.4 mi·56 sec·North Desplaines Street
4
Turn right onto West Lake Street
452 ft·10 sec·West Lake Street
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 EastUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.6 mi·56 sec·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 90; I 94
1.3 mi·1 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward I 55: Saint Louis, DuSable Lake Shore DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 53BToward I 55 South: St LouisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 55
5.6 mi·7 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi·27 sec·Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
12
Continue on I 55
122 mi·2 hr 19 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.0 mi·7 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
16
Take the exit onto IL 29
0.2 mi·23 sec·IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
17
Continue on Spalding Avenue
452 ft·20 sec·Spalding Avenue
18
Turn left onto IL 29
0.2 mi·16 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3h 15m drive, consider leaving in the morning to avoid heavier traffic, especially if starting near Chicago. With a total distance of 167.3 miles, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. A single stop should be sufficient for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $26, and it's always wise to refuel before hitting the longest stretch of highway. You'll notice a significant increase in highway driving immediately after departing the Near North Side area.
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 83.6 miles from Near North Side, IL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.3 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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.6 miles or 1h 40m 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 41m
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 Near North Side, 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 Near North Side, IL
This is one driving day of about 167.3 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Near North Side, 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 122.3 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 0.6 and 132.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|West Grand Avenue
Turn right onto West Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East, I 94 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
8
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Saint Louis, DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53
Toward I 55: Saint Louis, DuSable Lake Shore Dr...
8
4.1 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: St Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 53B
Toward I 55 South: St Louis
6
132.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
$25.52 one way
$51.05 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$28.11
$56.22
premium
$4.81
$31.66
$63.31
diesel
$5.40
$35.59
$71.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.64
$6.69
EV Truck/SUV
66.9
0
$23.42
$10.71
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 25, 2026
Origin
Near North Side, IL
Afternoon
in Near North Side on Sunday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:36PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:32PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Peoria, IL
Afternoon
in Peoria on Sunday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:36PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:32PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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 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 15m 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 5.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 98% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-74. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 122.3 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this predominantly highway path.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.3 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near West Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
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 167.3 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 0.6 miles (West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3h 15m. Total distance: 167.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.3 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
