North Peoria, IL to Kenwood, IL is 167.9 miles and takes about 3h 19m via I 55 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you firmly within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, for its entirety. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused journey that makes for a convenient one-day trip. It's a practical option if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points without much fuss. Consider this route for its directness and minimal complexity.
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 miles from North Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
122.1 mi
2h 18m
I 74
33.6 mi
36m
West 47th Street
8.5 mi
16m
North Knoxville Avenue
1 mi
1m
East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
South Central Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East 47th Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 122.1 mi, about 2h 18m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 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 North Peoria, IL and Kenwood, IL.
1
Start on East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
2
Turn left onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bloomington
4
Merge onto I 74
34 mi·36 min·I 74
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 55; US 51
122 mi·2 hr 18 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 285Toward Central AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
181 ft·8 sec
Toward Wintrust Sports ComplexUse the right lane.
9
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
0.2 mi·28 sec·South Central Avenue
10
Turn left onto West 47th Street
8.5 mi·16 min·West 47th Street
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
East 47th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over 3 hours, you have ample flexibility for when to depart. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive well before the evening, giving you time to settle in. The longest stretch is over 122 miles on I 55, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that segment. With only one stop suggested and a fuel cost around $26, this trip is budget-friendly and straightforward. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you get closer to the Chicago metropolitan area, especially if traveling during peak hours.
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 miles from North Peoria, IL, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.1 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 37m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenwood, 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 167.9 miles and 3h 19m.
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 55 for about 122.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 159.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 East: Bloomington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 East: Bloomington
6
35.4 mi into trip|~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
7
158.8 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 285
Toward Central Avenue
7
159.2 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Wintrust Sports Complex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Wintrust Sports Complex
6
159.4 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|West 47th Street
Turn left onto West 47th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.79 one way
$49.59 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$27.37
$54.75
premium
$4.72
$31.17
$62.35
diesel
$4.80
$31.70
$63.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.4
0
$17.63
$8.06
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.69
$6.72
EV Truck/SUV
67.2
0
$23.51
$10.75
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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
North Peoria, IL
Late night
in North Peoria on Monday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear then Areas Of Smoke
NE 6 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:16PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:38PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Kenwood, IL
Late night
in Kenwood on Monday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:16PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:38PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln 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 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 19m 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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 167.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey taking place on major interstates like I 55 and I 74. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 122.1 miles on I 55, which means you can settle in for a good portion of the trip. The character is largely that of steady, high-speed travel, designed for covering distance. While the primary roads are interstates, the final leg will involve navigating local roads like West 47th Street as you approach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.1 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 1.5 miles in.
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 9 significant decision points across 167.9 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
833 ft520 ft
Total Climb
476 ft
Total Descent
515 ft
Highest Point
833 ft
~36 mi in
Elevation Range
313 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Peoria, IL to Kenwood, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wintrust Sports Complex along the way.
Wintrust Sports Complex
159.2 mi in|~3h 2m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 167.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m 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 122.1 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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 Kenwood, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.8 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 3.3 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 Kenwood, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
