North Peoria, IL to Alden, IL is 170 miles and takes about 3 hours 21 minutes via I-39 and I-80, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on interstates, making it a straightforward journey. It's a solid choice for a single-day trip when you need to cover ground efficiently without much fuss. The relatively short duration means you can depart later in the morning or arrive with plenty of time to spare.
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
84.9 miles from North Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
64.6 mi
1h 9m
County Road 1400 East
17.8 mi
20m
I 80
17.4 mi
18m
West Grove Street
12.4 mi
17m
South 4th Street
9.1 mi
10m
I 180
8.9 mi
9m
North Galena Road
7.6 mi
11m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
7.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 64.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Peoria, IL and Alden, IL.
1
Start on East McClure Avenue
0.4 mi·59 sec·East McClure Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Prospect Road
1.0 mi·1 min·North Prospect Road
3
Turn right onto US 150
1.1 mi·1 min·East War Memorial Drive
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
5
Keep slight left at fork
399 ft·13 sec
6
Turn straight onto IL 29
0.2 mi·32 sec·Northeast Adams Street
7
Continue on IL 29
7.1 mi·10 min·North Galena Road
8
Keep slight left at fork
321 ft·4 sec
9
Keep slight right at fork
148 ft·2 sec
10
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi·35 sec·North Galena Road
11
Continue on IL 29
6.1 mi·7 min·North State Route 29
12
Continue on IL 29
9.1 mi·10 min·South 4th Street
13
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·Railroad Street
14
Continue on IL 29
18 mi·20 min·County Road 1400 East
15
Merge onto I 180
8.9 mi·9 min·I 180
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
17
Merge onto I 80
17 mi·18 min·I 80
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 79BToward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
19
Merge onto I 39; US 51
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 39; US 51
20
Merge onto I 39; US 20; US 51
2.2 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
21
Continue on I 39; US 51
1.7 mi·1 min·I 39; US 51
22
Merge onto I 39; I 90; US 51
7.3 mi·7 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 173: West Lane Road
24
Turn right onto IL 173
1.3 mi·1 min·West Lane Road
25
Continue on IL 173
5.6 mi·7 min·State Route 173
26
Continue on IL 173
12 mi·17 min·West Grove Street
27
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
0.5 mi·49 sec·South Division Street
28
Turn right onto IL 173
6.1 mi·8 min·East Diggins Street
29
Turn right onto V12
11 ft·0 sec·Alden Road
30
Arrive at destination
V12
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour 21-minute drive, you can easily tackle it in one day. Consider an early to mid-morning departure to avoid any potential rush hour traffic leaving Peoria. The longest stretch is on I-39 for nearly 65 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that segment. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility if you decide to make an unscheduled stop, but remember that services might be more spread out on the county road portions. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition off the main interstates.
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 84.9 miles from North Peoria, IL, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.6 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 37 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.9 miles or 1h 41m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alden, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Peoria, 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 North Peoria, IL
This is one driving day of about 169.9 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from North Peoria, 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 39 for about 64.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stretch
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
DePue, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+18154472198
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 71.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|North Prospect Road
At end of road, turn left onto North Prospect Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
10.1 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
53.6 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
6
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79B
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.56 one way
$53.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.16
$58.33
premium
$4.89
$32.70
$65.39
diesel
$5.61
$37.51
$75.02
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(7.3 mi)$0.51
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.84
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.79
$10.87
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 18, 2026
Origin
North Peoria, IL
Late night
in North Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Sunny
WNW 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:05PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:05PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Alden, IL
Late night
in Alden on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Washburn, IL
85 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
9 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 21m 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?
This drive offers a mixed driving experience, with 60% of it on highways like I-39 and I-80. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced interstate travel, including a significant 64.6-mile segment on I-39 where you can maintain steady speeds. The remainder of the route incorporates county roads, suggesting a shift to more local, potentially slower-paced driving as you get closer to your destination. Overall, it's not an overly technical or winding route, but the transition between highway and county roads will require your attention.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.6 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North Prospect Road.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 169.9 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 0.4 miles (North Prospect Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 169.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.6 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.51 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Alden, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North Prospect Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Alden, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
