The drive from Peoria, IL to Barrington Hills, IL covers 179.4 miles and takes about 3h 34m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, Murray Baker Bridge, Veterans Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.3 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
89.7 miles from Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
105.3 mi
1h 55m
Murray Baker Bridge
33 mi
36m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
19.2 mi
24m
I 290
5.6 mi
6m
West Northwest Highway
3.7 mi
5m
IL 53
2.2 mi
2m
South Plum Grove Road
1.9 mi
3m
West Colfax Street
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 105.3 mi, about 1h 55m
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 Peoria, IL and Barrington Hills, IL.
1
Start on Northeast Jefferson Avenue
84 ft·5 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
2
Turn right onto Hamilton Boulevard
464 ft·16 sec·Hamilton Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Northeast Madison Avenue
449 ft·16 sec·Northeast Madison Avenue
4
Turn right onto Fayette Street
469 ft·15 sec·Fayette Street
5
Take the ramp onto IL 29
0.2 mi·25 sec·IL 29
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
6
Merge onto I 74; IL 29
33 mi·36 min·Murray Baker Bridge
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
8
Merge onto I 55; US 51
105 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 269Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest SuburbsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
11
Merge onto I 355
19 mi·24 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi·6 min·I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi·2 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Kirchoff RoadUse the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Kirchoff Road
16
Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road
1.9 mi·3 min·South Plum Grove Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto West Colfax Street
1.6 mi·2 min·West Colfax Street
18
Continue on Sterling Avenue
446 ft·19 sec·Sterling Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 14
3.7 mi·5 min·West Northwest Highway
20
Turn left onto Lake Cook Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Lake Cook Road
21
Continue on East Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·East Main Street
22
Turn left onto Oakdene Road
0.7 mi·2 min·Oakdene Road
23
Turn right onto Oakdene Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Oakdene Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Oakdene Drive
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 89.7 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.3 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.7 miles or 1h 40m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barrington Hills, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving 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 Peoria, IL
This is one driving day of about 179.4 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from 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 105.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.4 and 170 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
33.4 mi into trip|~37m 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
8
140.1 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
6
166.7 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
168.9 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Take the exit toward Kirchoff Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Kirchoff Road
6
170 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|South Plum Grove Road
Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.37 one way
$54.74 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$30.14
$60.29
premium
$4.81
$33.94
$67.89
diesel
$5.40
$38.16
$76.32
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.2 mi)$1.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.8
0
$18.84
$8.61
Efficient EV
44.9
0
$15.70
$7.18
EV Truck/SUV
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Peoria, IL
Morning
in Peoria on Sunday
Local time
10:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Barrington Hills, IL
Morning
in Barrington Hills on Sunday
Local time
10:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live 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
35 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 34m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 142.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
179.4 mi in 3h 34m, mostly highway — 105.3 mi of that is on I 55.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.3 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Murray Baker Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 179.4 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 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Peoria, IL to Barrington Hills, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Peoria is a city in Illinois and the county seat of Peoria County. It serves as a regional hub for the primarily rural and agricultural center of the state. Peoria is a small but diverse city of approximately 115,000 people that anchors a three-county metropolitan area of nearly 400,000.
Top landmarks
•Madison Theatre — theater and former movie theater in Peoria, Illinois, United States
•Hotel Père Marquette — hotel in downtown Peoria, Illinois
•Illinois Waterway Project Office — U.S. Army Core of Engineers facility in Peoria, Illinois
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 179.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.3 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.35 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Barrington Hills, 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 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Barrington Hills, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
