This 111.2-mile drive from Peoria, IL to Pana, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes. The route predominantly utilizes major highways, with 81% of the journey on interstates like I-155 and I-55, along with IL 29. Given its relatively short distance and highway-focused nature, it's ideal for a day trip, and you can expect a fuel cost of around $17. This journey stays within the Midwest, offering a typical Illinois driving experience without significant regional shifts. It's a practical option for anyone needing to travel between these two points efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.6 miles from Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 155
31.8 mi
34m
I 55
30.2 mi
32m
IL 29
23.3 mi
31m
Murray Baker Bridge
7.3 mi
8m
N 2000 East Road
5.4 mi
7m
West Park Street
5.3 mi
7m
State Route 29
5.1 mi
7m
North Webster Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 155
— 31.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, IL and Pana, 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
0.3 mi·47 sec·West Washington Street
20
Turn right onto North State Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·North State Street
21
Turn left onto IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
22
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this 2-hour, 16-minute drive is well under a full day's travel, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, perhaps avoiding peak rush hour traffic in Peoria. With only 111.2 miles and an estimated fuel cost of $17, you won't need to worry too much about frequent stops for gas. The longest stretch without a change in major road is 31.8 miles on I-155, so plan for a brief rest stop before or after this segment if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition onto IL 29, as this may be a point where you'll want to double-check your navigation.
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 55.6 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.8 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.6 miles or 1h 2m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pana, 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 111.2 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Peoria, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 155 for about 31.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 110.6 — 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.
5
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|North State Street
Turn right onto North State Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.38 one way
$34.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.09
$38.18
premium
$4.89
$21.40
$42.80
diesel
$5.61
$24.55
$49.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.4
0
$11.68
$5.34
Efficient EV
27.8
0
$9.73
$4.45
EV Truck/SUV
44.5
0
$15.57
$7.12
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 14, 2026
Origin
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 to 15 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 8:50PM CDT until April 14 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 8:37PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Pana, IL
Late night
in Pana on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 17 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 8:50PM CDT until April 14 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 8:37PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
71°F
Riverton, IL
56 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
2 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
2h 16m 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.
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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 111.2-mile trip, with 81% of the route on interstates. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-155 and I-55, which offer consistent speeds and direct travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.8 miles on I-155, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. While the route primarily sticks to these major arteries, the inclusion of IL 29 might offer brief shifts in scenery or speed as you transition between segments. Overall, the character is one of efficient, direct travel rather than winding scenic byways.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on I 155.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 155 and I 55. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hamilton Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 16m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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
•Illinois Waterway Project Office — U.S. Army Core of Engineers facility in Peoria, Illinois
The longest stretch is about 31.8 miles on I 155. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pana, IL before heading back.
