North Peoria, IL to Willowbrook, IL is 150.7 miles and takes about 2h 52m via I 55 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. With 96% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day of travel.
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
75.4 miles from North Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
111 mi
2h 3m
I 74
33.6 mi
36m
Kingery Highway
1.3 mi
1m
North Knoxville Avenue
1 mi
1m
Plainfield Road
0.5 mi
1m
East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
South Madison Street
0.4 mi
1m
Ridgemoor Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 111 mi, about 2h 3m
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 North Peoria, IL and Willowbrook, 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
111 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 274Toward IL 83: Kingery RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road NorthUse the right lane.
10
Continue on IL 83
1.3 mi·1 min·Kingery Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Plainfield Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Plainfield Road
12
Turn left onto South Madison Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Madison Street
13
Turn left onto Ridgemoor Drive
91 ft·3 sec·Ridgemoor Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Ridgemoor Drive
Trip Plan
For this 2h 52m drive, leaving in the morning gives you flexibility. The $23 fuel cost is manageable, so you likely won't need to stress about finding cheap gas. Given the relatively short distance, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Pay attention to exit signs for Kingery Highway as you approach Willowbrook, as this marks the transition from the interstate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.4 miles from North Peoria, IL, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.4 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Willowbrook, 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 150.7 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 148.2 — 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
147.7 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward IL 83: Kingery Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 274
Toward IL 83: Kingery Road
8
147.9 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
8
148.2 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.55 one way
$47.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.37
$25.92
$51.84
premium
$4.88
$28.94
$57.88
diesel
$5.35
$31.75
$63.50
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: 52.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-27.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.82
$7.23
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.19
$6.03
EV Truck/SUV
60.3
0
$21.10
$9.64
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
North Peoria, IL
Late night
in North Peoria on Wednesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
N 6 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
Willowbrook, IL
Late night
in Willowbrook on Wednesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
NNE 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
72°F
El Paso, IL
75 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 150.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 96% of the 150.7 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 111 miles on I 55 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a high number of exits and merges as you navigate this predominantly highway profile.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111 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 11 significant decision points across 150.7 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 147.7 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 2h 52m. Total distance: 150.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111 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 Willowbrook, 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 35.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.7 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Willowbrook, IL before heading back.
