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Trip from Peoria, IL to Waterman, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

112.7 mi

181 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 7m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Downtown Peoria, IL, IL

Peoria, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Waterman, IL, IL

Waterman, IL

정규송 Nui MALAMA

Trip Overview

The drive from Peoria, IL to Waterman, IL covers 112.7 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 39, County Road 1400 East, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.9 miles on I 39. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.47 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

56.4 miles from Peoria, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 39 27.9 mi 29m
County Road 1400 East 17.8 mi 20m
I 80 17.4 mi 18m
US 30 12.3 mi 18m
South 4th Street 9.1 mi 10m
I 180 8.9 mi 9m
North Galena Road 7.6 mi 11m
North State Route 29 6.1 mi 7m
Longest stretch: I 39 — 27.9 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, IL and Waterman, IL.

1

Start on Northeast Jefferson Avenue

84 ft · 8 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue
2

Turn left onto Hamilton Boulevard

466 ft · 20 sec · Hamilton Boulevard
3

Turn left onto Northeast Adams Street

2.6 mi · 4 min · Northeast Adams Street
4

Continue on IL 29

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Northeast Adams Street
5

Continue on IL 29

7.1 mi · 10 min · North Galena Road
6

Keep slight left at fork

321 ft · 4 sec
7

Keep slight right at fork

148 ft · 2 sec
8

Continue on IL 29

0.4 mi · 35 sec · North Galena Road
9

Continue on IL 29

6.1 mi · 7 min · North State Route 29
10

Continue on IL 29

9.1 mi · 10 min · South 4th Street
11

Continue on IL 29

1.1 mi · 1 min · Railroad Street
12

Continue on IL 29

18 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400 East
13

Merge onto I 180

8.9 mi · 9 min · I 180
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
15

Merge onto I 80

17 mi · 18 min · I 80
16

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 79B Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
17

Merge onto I 39; US 51

28 mi · 29 min · I 39; US 51
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Exit 87 Toward US 30: Sterling, Rock Falls, Aurora
19

Turn right onto US 30

12 mi · 18 min · US 30
20

Turn left onto North Elm Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Elm Street
21

Arrive at destination

North Elm Street

Trip Plan

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 56.4 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.9 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 25 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 56.4 miles or 1h 10m 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 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterman, 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 112.7 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Peoria, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 39 for about 27.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and the county seat of Summit County, Ohio, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Akron, IL

56 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

Akron, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coal Hollow, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.4 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99.9 — 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 left onto Hamilton Boulevard

Navigation decision point

6
10.2 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
53.7 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Joliet

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 80 East: Joliet
6
71.5 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 79B Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
6
99.9 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit toward US 30: Sterling, Rock Falls, Aurora

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 87 Toward US 30: Sterling, Rock Falls, Aurora

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.47 one way

$34.95 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $19.16 $38.32
premium $4.93 $21.87 $43.73
diesel $5.60 $24.84 $49.69

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: 39.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.8 0 $11.83 $5.41
Efficient EV 28.2 0 $9.86 $4.51
EV Truck/SUV 45.1 0 $15.78 $7.21

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 Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Peoria, IL

Late night in Peoria on Sunday

Local time

12:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Clear

SSW 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:34AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:34AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Waterman, IL

Late night in Waterman on Sunday

Local time

12:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Mostly Clear

SW 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:34AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:34AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

62°F

Akron, 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

3 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 17m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

112.7 mi in 2h 17m, mostly highway — 27.9 mi of that is on I 39.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.9 mi on I 39.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and County Road 1400 East. 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 Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 112.7 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: near the start (Hamilton Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

938 ft 460 ft

Total Climb

582 ft

Total Descent

255 ft

Highest Point

938 ft

~104.7 mi in

Elevation Range

478 ft

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 Waterman, IL, road signs point toward Rock Falls and Aurora.

Rock Falls

99.9 mi in | ~1h 57m

Aurora

99.9 mi in | ~1h 57m

About the Cities

Starting in Peoria, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1680

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

Arriving in Waterman, IL

Full guide →

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 2h 17m. Total distance: 112.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.9 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Waterman, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Hamilton Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterman, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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