Peoria, IL to Brookfield, IL is 155.1 miles and takes about 3h 1m via I 55 and Murray Baker Bridge, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward drive between two familiar regions. With over 70% of the route on highways, expect a generally efficient and direct path. This is a solid option for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking to cover ground without significant detours. Plan for a relatively quick transit that gets you to your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
77.5 miles from 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
113.5 mi
2h 6m
Murray Baker Bridge
33 mi
36m
Joliet Road
2 mi
3m
Maple Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
East 47th Street
1 mi
2m
South Brainard Avenue
1 mi
2m
South La Grange Road
0.8 mi
1m
West Plainfield Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 113.5 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, IL and Brookfield, 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
114 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto Joliet Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Joliet Road
Exit 276CToward Joliet RoadUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Turn left onto South Brainard Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·South Brainard Avenue
11
Turn right onto West Plainfield Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Plainfield Road
12
Turn left onto US 12; US 20; US 45
0.8 mi·1 min·South La Grange Road
13
Turn right onto East 47th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·East 47th Street
14
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·Maple Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Grant Avenue
101 ft·4 sec·Grant Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Grant Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Leaving Peoria in the morning, perhaps around 9 AM, should get you to Brookfield by noon, avoiding the worst of potential rush hour traffic. The $24 fuel cost is a good estimate for planning, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 113.5-mile stretch on I 55. While there's only one recommended stop, you might consider a quick break around the halfway point or just before hitting the denser suburban exits. Since it's a shorter drive, you have flexibility to leave a bit later if needed.
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 77.5 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.5 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 34 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.5 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookfield, 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 155.1 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 113.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 153.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Hamilton Boulevard
Turn right onto Hamilton Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Fayette Street
Turn right onto Fayette Street
Navigation decision point
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
7
148.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|Joliet Road
Take the exit onto Joliet Road toward Joliet Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 276C
Toward Joliet Road
6
153.8 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|Maple Avenue
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.25 one way
$48.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.62
$53.25
premium
$4.89
$29.85
$59.70
diesel
$5.61
$34.24
$68.49
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: 54.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.5
0
$16.29
$7.44
Efficient EV
38.8
0
$13.57
$6.20
EV Truck/SUV
62
0
$21.71
$9.93
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brookfield, IL
Late night
in Brookfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Reading, IL
78 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
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 1m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 149.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 73% of this 155.1-mile trip on highways, primarily I 55. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 113.5 miles, meaning you'll have a good period of consistent cruising. Expect a lot of exits and merging as you approach and pass through more populated areas, especially as you near your destination in Brookfield. The transition from highway to surface roads will happen later in the drive.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Murray Baker Bridge. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hamilton Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
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 155.1 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Hamilton Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Fayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 1m. Total distance: 155.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m 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 113.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Hamilton Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Fayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Brookfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
