Peoria to Midlothian is 152.7 miles and takes about 2h 54m via I 55 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. Given its mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a quick option for point-to-point travel. Consider this route if you're looking for efficiency and don't need extensive sightseeing along the way.
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
76.3 miles from Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
86.7 mi
1h 33m
Murray Baker Bridge
33 mi
36m
I 80
24.8 mi
30m
I 57
2.5 mi
3m
Pulaski Road
1 mi
1m
Crawford Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
West 159th Street
0.5 mi
1m
IL 29
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, IL and Midlothian, 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
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 250AToward I 80 East: IndianaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 80
25 mi·30 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·50 sec
Exit 151BToward I 57 North, I 294 North: Chicago, WisconsinUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Merge onto I 57
2.5 mi·3 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 348A-BToward US 6: 159th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 6 West: 159th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 348BToward US 6 West: 159th StreetUse the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 6
0.5 mi·1 min·West 159th Street
17
Turn right onto Crawford Avenue
387 ft·7 sec·Crawford Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on Crawford Avenue
0.4 mi·45 sec·Crawford Avenue
19
Continue on Pulaski Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Pulaski Road
20
Arrive at destination
Pulaski Road
Trip Plan
For this 2h 54m drive, leaving in the morning is a good plan to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to the Chicago area. Since the total trip is under 3 hours and requires only one planned stop, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $24, and ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for increased traffic volume on I-80 as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area, regardless of the time of day.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.3 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 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 76.3 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Midlothian, 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 152.7 miles and 2h 54m.
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 86.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 121.5 and 150.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
121.5 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
8
147.1 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 57 North, I 294 North: Chicago, Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 151B
Toward I 57 North, I 294 North: Chicago, Wiscon...
7
150 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 6: 159th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 348A-B
Toward US 6: 159th Street
8
150.2 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 West: 159th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 6 West: 159th Street
9
150.5 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: 159th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 348B
Toward US 6 West: 159th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.87 one way
$47.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.21
$52.42
premium
$4.89
$29.39
$58.77
diesel
$5.61
$33.71
$67.43
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: 53.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.8
0
$16.03
$7.33
Efficient EV
38.2
0
$13.36
$6.11
EV Truck/SUV
61.1
0
$21.38
$9.77
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Peoria, IL
Morning
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Areas Of Frost
WSW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 10:25PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 10:23PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Midlothian, IL
Morning
in Midlothian on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Reading, IL
76 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
29 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
2h 54m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 152.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 75% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed interstates for the majority of your travel. The longest continuous stretch on highway is 86.7 miles on I 55. You'll notice a high density of exits and merging traffic as you approach and navigate urban areas. Expect a fairly consistent driving experience with limited changes in elevation.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 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 121.5 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 15 significant decision points across 152.7 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 121.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 54m. Total distance: 152.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Midlothian, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 121.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Midlothian, IL before heading back.
