Peoria, IL to Metropolis, IL is 286.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m via Ken Gray Expressway and I-24, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traveling from the Midwest region to the southern part of the state. The route primarily uses interstate highways, making it a straightforward drive. With a single recommended stop and a drive time under six hours, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll find the bulk of the driving on well-maintained expressways, offering a consistent pace.
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
143.1 miles from Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ken Gray Expressway
47.2 mi
50m
I 24
35.6 mi
38m
I 155
31.8 mi
34m
I 55
30.2 mi
32m
I 57
24.5 mi
26m
IL 29
23.3 mi
31m
300 East Road
15.1 mi
17m
United States Highway 51
13.4 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 47.2 mi, about 50m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,386 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,823
Quietest
2 AM
~244 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 96 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 Metropolis, 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
7.3 mi·8 min·Murray Baker Bridge
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
8
Continue on I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
9
Merge onto I 55
30 mi·32 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
11
Merge onto IL 29
1.5 mi·2 min·IL 29
12
Continue on IL 29
4.7 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·2 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·19 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi·34 sec·North Webster Street
16
Turn left onto IL 29
5.3 mi·7 min·West Park Street
17
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
18
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
19
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
20
Turn right onto North Poplar Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Poplar Street
21
Turn straight onto US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
22
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 E
23
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·300 East Road
24
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
25
Continue on US 51
1.5 mi·1 min·North Kennedy Boulevard
26
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi·34 sec·West Gallatin Street
27
Turn right
0.1 mi·7 sec
28
Continue on US 51
13 mi·15 min·United States Highway 51
29
Continue on US 51
10 mi·11 min·250E
30
Turn left onto US 50
7.6 mi·8 min·US 50
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
32
Merge onto I 57
24 mi·26 min·I 57
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·Ken Gray Expressway
34
Take the exit
1.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 24 East: Nashville
35
Continue on I 24
36 mi·38 min·I 24
36
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 37Toward US 45: Metropolis, Brookport, Rest Area, Welcome Center
37
Turn right onto US 45
1.6 mi·2 min·United States Route 45
38
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·East 12th Street
39
Turn left onto Ferry Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Ferry Street
40
Turn right onto West 5th Street
45 ft·1 sec·West 5th Street
41
Arrive at destination
West 5th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 35m drive, consider leaving Peoria in the morning to arrive in Metropolis with plenty of daylight. Since the total mileage is 286.2 miles, you can comfortably complete it in one day. There's one recommended stop, but you might want to plan additional brief breaks as needed, especially during the longer highway stretches. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $44, and gas availability can vary between larger towns. A good tip is to fill up before leaving Peoria, as highway services might be less frequent in certain sections.
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 143.1 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 63 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.1 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metropolis, 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 286.2 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 Ken Gray Expressway for about 47.2 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 282.7 — 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...
5
40.4 mi into trip|~45m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
282.7 mi into trip|~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 45: Metropolis, Brookport, Rest Area, Welcome Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 37
Toward US 45: Metropolis, Brookport, Rest Area,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.74 one way
$95.48 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$52.09
$104.18
premium
$5.25
$59.19
$118.38
diesel
$6.28
$70.72
$141.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.9
1
$30.05
$13.74
Efficient EV
71.6
0
$25.04
$11.45
EV Truck/SUV
114.5
1
$40.07
$18.32
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Peoria, IL
Evening
in Peoria on Saturday
Local time
7:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
S 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Metropolis, IL
Evening
in Metropolis on Saturday
Local time
7:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
S 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
56°F
Brownstown, IL
143 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
32 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
5h 35m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
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 77% of the 286.2 miles on interstates like I-24 and I-155. You'll encounter a long stretch of 47.2 miles on Ken Gray Expressway before transitioning to other main roads. Expect a predominantly rural cruising experience once you move beyond the initial expressway segments. The highway sections offer a consistent speed limit for much of the trip.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on Ken Gray Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ken Gray Expressway and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hamilton Boulevard.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 286.2 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: 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.
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
•Rock Island Depot and Freight House — former train station in downtown Peoria, Illinois
Metropolis is a small city in Southern Illinois probably named out of wishful thinking which hasn't really been borne out. The town's current claim to fame is as the host for a floating riverboat casino run by the Harrah's casino chain of Reno, Nevada. The town has also capitalized on its name by erecting what is referred to on road signs as a Giant Statue of Superman of DC Comics fame. In fact, though the statue is called giant it's less than half as tall as the statue of Big John the grocer, which is found in front of the Big John's supermarket on the way into town. Big John's also hosts a small gaming casino room.
Top landmarks
•Elijah P. Curtis House — historic house in Illinois, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 286.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Metropolis, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Metropolis, IL before the return drive.
