North Peoria, IL to Preston, IL is 204.6 miles and takes about 4h 13m via I 55 and I 155, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. With 77% of the route on highways, expect a mostly efficient journey. The recommended single day for this drive means you can get to your destination without needing an overnight stay. It's a practical option if you need to cover this distance efficiently.
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
102.3 miles from North Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
111.9 mi
2h 1m
I 155
31.8 mi
34m
North Illinois Street
9.8 mi
15m
East Market Street
8.7 mi
12m
South Illinois Street
8.3 mi
12m
I 74
7.9 mi
9m
Main Street
6.4 mi
9m
State Route 159
6.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 111.9 mi, about 2h 1m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,806 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,393
Quietest
2 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Preston, 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
7.9 mi·9 min·I 74
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
6
Continue on I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
7
Merge onto I 55
34 mi·37 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward IL 159 South: Collinsville
10
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
11
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
12
Continue on IL 159
9.8 mi·15 min·North Illinois Street
13
Enter roundabout onto IL 159
181 ft·4 sec·South Illinois Street
14
Continue on IL 159
8.3 mi·12 min·South Illinois Street
15
Continue on IL 159
6.1 mi·9 min·State Route 159
16
Continue on IL 156; IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Main Street
17
Continue on IL 159
0.2 mi·13 sec·N Main St
18
Continue on IL 159
6.4 mi·9 min·Main Street
19
Turn left onto IL 154
8.7 mi·12 min·East Market Street
20
Turn right onto South 5th Street
0.4 mi·58 sec·South 5th Street
21
Continue on Baldwin Road
5.2 mi·12 min·Baldwin Road
22
Turn right onto Preston Road
0.1 mi·34 sec·Preston Road
23
Keep slight right at fork onto Preston Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Preston Road
24
Turn left onto Pautler Road
155 ft·6 sec·Pautler Road
25
Arrive at destination
Pautler Road
Trip Plan
For this 4h 13m drive, leaving in the morning should give you ample time to reach Preston, IL, before evening. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 111.9 miles on I 55, so plan for a break before or after this segment if needed. With a fuel cost estimated around $30, it's a budget-friendly trip. Since this is a one-day route, you have flexibility; however, be mindful that highway speeds can make time pass quickly. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 155 to North Illinois Street as your main road changes.
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 102.3 miles from North Peoria, IL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.9 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.3 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Preston, 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 204.6 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 111.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 168.5 — 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
5
42.3 mi into trip|~49m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
154.2 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 15A
Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
5
168.5 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|IL 159 / South Illinois Street
Enter roundabout onto IL 159 / South Illinois Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.13 one way
$68.26 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$37.09
$74.19
premium
$5.26
$42.36
$84.72
diesel
$6.18
$49.77
$99.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.4
0
$21.48
$9.82
Efficient EV
51.2
0
$17.90
$8.18
EV Truck/SUV
81.8
1
$28.64
$13.09
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
8:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
NNW 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Preston, IL
Morning
in Preston on Sunday
Local time
8:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
N 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM 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
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
4h 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 77% of the 204.6 miles on major roads like I 55 and I 155. You'll experience a long stretch of highway cruising for 111.9 miles on I 55. Surface roads, including North Illinois Street, will make up the remaining portion of your trip. Expect to notice a pattern of more frequent exits as you transition from limited-access highways to local routes.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 204.6 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
680 ft466 ft
Total Climb
169 ft
Total Descent
336 ft
Highest Point
680 ft
~116.9 mi in
Elevation Range
214 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 204.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m 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 111.9 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 Preston, 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Preston, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
