Origin
Peoria, IL
Late night in Peoria on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Peoria, IL to Lake of the Woods, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
81.5 mi
131 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 26m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Peoria, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lake of the Woods, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Peoria, IL to Lake of the Woods, IL is 81.5 miles and takes about 1h 32m via I 74 and Murray Baker Bridge, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. It's a good option for a quick getaway or a purposeful journey without requiring an overnight stay. The route is primarily highway, offering a direct path between your starting point and destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 45 mi | 48m |
| Murray Baker Bridge | 33 mi | 36m |
| South Lake of the Woods Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East Oak Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Lombard Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| IL 29 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fayette Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hamilton Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 45 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, IL and Lake of the Woods, 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 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
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51
38 mi
·
41 min
·
I 74; US 51
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 172
Toward IL 47: Mahomet
10
Turn right onto IL 47
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lombard Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 150
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Oak Street
12
Turn left onto South Lake of the Woods Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Lake of the Woods Road
13
Turn right
301 ft
·
23 sec
14
Turn left
138 ft
·
10 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1h 32m drive, you have plenty of flexibility for when to depart. Consider leaving earlier in the day to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to stop. With a fuel cost estimated around $13, filling up before you leave Peoria is a good idea. Keep an eye out for the turn onto South Lake of the Woods Road, as it marks your final approach to your destination.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.8 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45 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 18 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake of the Woods, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Peoria, IL
This is one driving day of about 81.5 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Peoria, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 45 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Peoria, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 40 — 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
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 29
Take the ramp onto IL 29 toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pek...
6
33.4 mi into trip
|
~37m 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...
6
40 mi into trip
|
~44m 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business N...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.74 one way
$25.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.99 | $27.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.68 | $31.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.99 | $35.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.56 | $3.91 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.13 | $3.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.41 | $5.22 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Lake of the Woods, IL
Late night in Lake of the Woods on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
41 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
1h 32m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a mixed profile, with 55% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 74, including a stretch of 45 miles without needing to exit. Expect to navigate the Murray Baker Bridge as part of your interstate travel. The road generally offers a consistent driving experience, transitioning from interstate speeds to local roads as you approach your destination.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hamilton Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 81.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.3 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Peoria, IL and Lake of the Woods, IL, road signs point toward Indianapolis and Decatur.
Indianapolis
33.4 mi in
|
~37m
|
via I 74
Decatur
40 mi in
|
~44m
|
via I 74; US 51
About the Cities
Starting in Peoria, IL
Full guide →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.
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 1h 32m. Total distance: 81.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Hamilton Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Fayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake of the Woods, IL before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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