Peoria, IL to Uptown, IL is 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 26m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest and entirely within Illinois, making it a straightforward connection between two points. The route primarily uses interstate highways, offering a direct and efficient way to travel. Given its relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll find the travel experience to be largely focused on transit rather than extensive sightseeing.
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
86.1 miles from Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
123.2 mi
2h 19m
Murray Baker Bridge
33 mi
36m
South Ashland Avenue
5.1 mi
10m
Stevenson Expressway
3.6 mi
4m
South Damen Avenue
2.4 mi
4m
North Sheridan Road
0.8 mi
1m
West Irving Park Road
0.7 mi
1m
West Ogden Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 123.2 mi, about 2h 19m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,464
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 73 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 Uptown, 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
123 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi·4 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 290Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward Damen AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft·12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen AvenueUse the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
2.4 mi·4 min·South Damen Avenue
14
Turn right onto US 66 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·West Ogden Avenue
15
Turn left onto South Ashland Avenue
5.1 mi·10 min·South Ashland Avenue
16
Turn right onto IL 19
0.7 mi·1 min·West Irving Park Road
17
Turn left onto North Sheridan Road
0.8 mi·1 min·North Sheridan Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto West Eastwood Avenue
509 ft·14 sec·West Eastwood Avenue
19
Turn slight right
181 ft·13 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3h 26m drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive at your destination with daylight to spare. Since the total distance is only 172.1 miles, you can easily complete it in one day without needing an overnight stop. There's only one recommended stop on this route, but you can adjust your timing as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $27, and plan your fill-up accordingly, perhaps before you leave Peoria or during the longer stretch on I 55. The final miles on South Ashland Avenue might involve more local traffic, so be prepared for that change in pace.
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 86.1 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.2 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 38 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.1 miles or 1h 38m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Uptown, 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 172.1 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 123.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.4 and 171.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
161.7 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 290
Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
8
161.8 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Damen Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Damen Avenue
9
162.1 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
6
171.2 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|North Sheridan Road
Turn left onto North Sheridan Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.71 one way
$57.42 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$31.20
$62.40
premium
$5.26
$35.63
$71.27
diesel
$6.18
$41.87
$83.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.6
0
$18.07
$8.26
Efficient EV
43
0
$15.06
$6.88
EV Truck/SUV
68.8
0
$24.09
$11.01
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Peoria, IL
Morning
in Peoria on Monday
Local time
9:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SSW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Uptown, IL
Morning
in Uptown on Monday
Local time
9:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
SSW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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 26m 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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 160.3
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 74% of the 172.1 miles on interstates like I 55. You'll experience a longest stretch of 123.2 miles on I 55, which means extended periods of consistent speed. The transition to surface streets happens around mile 135, with the final portion of your trip on roads like South Ashland Avenue. Expect a typical highway environment with frequent exits leading up to your destination.
74% 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: 123.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 33.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 172.1 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 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
•Rock Island Depot and Freight House — former train station in downtown Peoria, Illinois
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 172.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Uptown, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Uptown, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
