North Peoria, IL to Willowbrook, IL is 155.3 miles and takes about 3h 12m via I 55 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive between two familiar regions. The route primarily utilizes major interstates, suggesting a comfortable and efficient travel experience. With a recommended single day of travel, this route is ideal for a quick visit or transit without requiring an overnight stay.
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
77.6 miles from North Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
75.1 mi
1h 20m
I 74
33.6 mi
36m
West Wilmington Road
13.7 mi
19m
South Governors Highway
4.8 mi
6m
Calumet Expressway
4.4 mi
6m
West Pauling Road
4.3 mi
6m
West Peotone Road
4 mi
5m
West Goodenow Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 75.1 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,464
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 73 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
75 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 129 South: Wilmington
8
Turn straight onto IL 129
0.4 mi·40 sec·Washington Street
9
Turn left onto CH 29
1.6 mi·2 min·Stripmine Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto IL 53
256 ft·6 sec·West Baltimore Street
11
Continue on IL 53
0.5 mi·1 min·West Balitmore Street
12
Continue on IL 53
0.2 mi·28 sec·Bridge Street
13
Continue on IL 53
0.6 mi·1 min·East Baltimore Street
14
Continue on IL 53
0.8 mi·1 min·South Chicago Road
15
Turn right onto CH 25
4.0 mi·5 min·West Peotone Road
16
Continue on CH 25
14 mi·19 min·West Wilmington Road
17
Turn left onto IL 50
0.5 mi·53 sec·South Governors Highway
18
Continue on IL 50
0.7 mi·1 min·South Harlem Avenue
19
Continue on IL 50
4.3 mi·6 min·South Governors Highway
20
Turn right onto CH 23
4.3 mi·6 min·West Pauling Road
21
Continue on CH 23
2.1 mi·3 min·West Goodenow Road
22
Continue on CH 23
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
23
Turn left onto IL 1; IL 394
4.4 mi·6 min·Calumet Expressway
24
Turn right onto East Burville Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Burville Road
25
Turn left onto Stoney Island Avenue
180 ft·9 sec·Stoney Island Avenue
26
Turn right onto CH 49
2.0 mi·3 min·East Exchange Street
27
Turn left onto South State Line Road
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Line Road
28
Turn left onto Challas Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Challas Drive
29
At end of road, turn right onto Buried Oak Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Buried Oak Drive
30
Turn right onto Longwood Drive
329 ft·14 sec·Longwood Drive
31
Arrive at destination
Longwood Drive
Trip Plan
For this 3h 12m drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic. Since the total distance is just over 155 miles, you can comfortably complete it in one day. Plan for a single stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, though the $24 fuel cost suggests you likely won't need to fill up completely. Pay attention to exit numbers on I 55 as you get closer to Willowbrook to ensure you take the correct turn off.
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 77.6 miles from North Peoria, IL, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.1 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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.6 miles or 1h 27m 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 27m
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 155.3 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 75.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 112.5 — 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
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
5
36.8 mi into trip|~43m in|I 55; US 51
Merge onto I 55; US 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
111.8 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward IL 129 South: Wilmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 129 South: Wilmington
4
112.5 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|CH 29 / Stripmine Road
Turn left onto CH 29 / Stripmine Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.91 one way
$51.81 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$28.16
$56.31
premium
$5.26
$32.15
$64.31
diesel
$6.18
$37.78
$75.56
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: 54.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.6
0
$16.31
$7.45
Efficient EV
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
EV Truck/SUV
62.1
0
$21.74
$9.94
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 18, 2026
Origin
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Monday
Local time
9:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
SSW 6 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Willowbrook, IL
Morning
in Willowbrook on Monday
Local time
9:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
SSW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
4 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
3h 12m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 155.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 73% of the 155.3 miles on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 75.1 miles on I 55 before transitioning to surface roads like West Wilmington Road. Expect a more urban feel with frequent exits as you approach your destination, a contrast to the longer, more open interstate cruising.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.1 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 74. You will hit about 17 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 155.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 35.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
796 ft557 ft
Total Climb
430 ft
Total Descent
344 ft
Highest Point
796 ft
~33.3 mi in
Elevation Range
239 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 155.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.1 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 15 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 36.8 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Willowbrook, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
