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Trip from Pekin, IL to York, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 6m

Distance

193 mi

311 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 54m ★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city and county seat of Tazewell County, Illinois, United States

Pekin, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

York, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pekin, IL to York, IL covers 193 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 74, South Main Street, Georgetown Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 114.5 miles on I 74. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.92 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

96.5 miles from Pekin, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 74 114.5 mi 2h 3m
South Main Street 30.4 mi 45m
Georgetown Road 29.6 mi 44m
I 474 4.8 mi 5m
Radio City Drive 3.5 mi 5m
East 150th Road 1.9 mi 7m
North State Street 1.9 mi 2m
North Central Avenue 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 74 — 114.5 mi, about 2h 3m

Traffic on I-74

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,574 veh/hr typical · worst 1,953

Quietest

2 AM

~101 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

15.6×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 85 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 Pekin, IL and York, IL.

1

Start on South 8th Street

174 ft · 3 sec · South 8th Street
2

Turn straight onto Ann Eliza Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Ann Eliza Street
3

Turn straight

182 ft · 3 sec
4

Turn straight onto IL 29

0.4 mi · 35 sec · North 5th Street
5

Continue on IL 29

0.6 mi · 50 sec · North 8th Street
6

Continue on IL 29

3.5 mi · 5 min · Radio City Drive
7

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
8

Merge onto I 474

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 474
9

Merge onto I 74

27 mi · 28 min · I 74
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 74

6.6 mi · 7 min · I 74
Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51

81 mi · 1 hr 27 min · I 74; US 51
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur Use the slight right lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward US 150, IL 1
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
14

Turn straight onto US 150; IL 1

14 mi · 20 min · Georgetown Road
15

Continue on US 150; IL 1

1.9 mi · 2 min · North State Street
16

Continue on US 150; IL 1

6.1 mi · 9 min · Georgetown Road
17

Continue on US 150; IL 1

0.3 mi · 28 sec · 1575 E US 36
18

Continue on US 150; IL 1

10 mi · 14 min · Georgetown Road
19

Continue on US 150; IL 1

1.4 mi · 3 min · IL Route 1
20

Turn right onto US 150; IL 1

512 ft · 8 sec · West Elliot Street
21

Turn left onto US 150; IL 1

1.7 mi · 2 min · North Central Avenue
22

Continue on IL 1

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Vandalia Way
23

Turn straight onto IL 1

30 mi · 45 min · South Main Street
24

Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road

1.9 mi · 7 min · East 150th Road
25

Continue on West Broadway Street

0.2 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Street
26

Turn left onto North York Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · North York Street
27

Arrive at destination

North York Street

Trip Plan

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 96.5 miles from Pekin, IL, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.5 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 42 miles or 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 96.5 miles or 1h 46m 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 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Pekin, 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 Pekin, IL

This is one driving day of about 193 miles and 4h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Pekin, 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 74 for about 114.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Champaign, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

97 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Bloomington, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 96.5 miles from Pekin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 74 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 114.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 37.1 and 190.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
37.1 mi into trip | ~42m in | I 74

Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Saint Louis, Indianapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 55 South, I 74 East, US 51 South: Sain...
8
43.7 mi into trip | ~49m in | I 74; US 51

Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51 toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business N...
5
124.6 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 150, IL 1

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 150, IL 1
7
124.8 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
5
190.7 mi into trip | ~3h 57m in | East 150th Road

Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.92 one way

$59.85 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 68 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $32.81 $65.62
premium $4.93 $37.45 $74.89
diesel $5.60 $42.54 $85.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 57.9 0 $20.27 $9.26
Efficient EV 48.3 0 $16.89 $7.72
EV Truck/SUV 77.2 0 $27.02 $12.35

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 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 Aug 23, 2026

Origin

Pekin, IL

Late night in Pekin on Thursday

Local time

1:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Clear

N 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 22 at 8:49PM CDT until August 28 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 22 at 8:49PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Destination

York, IL

Late night in York on Thursday

Local time

1:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Mostly Clear

NW 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 22 at 8:49PM CDT until August 28 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 22 at 8:49PM 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

4h 6m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

193 mi in 4h 6m, mostly highway — 114.5 mi of that is on I 74.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.5 mi on I 74.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and South Main Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 37.1 miles in near I 74.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 193 miles you will encounter 9 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 37.1 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles (I 74; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

803 ft 451 ft

Total Climb

347 ft

Total Descent

400 ft

Highest Point

803 ft

~53.9 mi in

Elevation Range

351 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Pekin, IL and York, IL, road signs point toward Indianapolis and Decatur.

Indianapolis

37.1 mi in | ~42m | via I 74

Decatur

43.7 mi in | ~49m | via I 74; US 51

About the Cities

Starting in Pekin, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1829

Top landmarks

  • • Carl Herget Mansion — historic house in Illinois, United States
  • • Pekin Federal Building — historic government building in Pekin, Illinois
  • • St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad Depot — historic train station in Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois

Arriving in York, IL

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 193 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 114.5 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 York, 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 37.1 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles (I 74; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at York, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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