Pontoon Beach, IL to Peoria, IL is 158.8 miles and takes about 2h 56m via I-55, I-155, and I-270, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Illinois. You'll spend almost all your time on the highway, making for a straightforward drive. It's a solid option if you need to get from the St. Louis metro area up towards central Illinois without much fuss.
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
79.4 miles from Pontoon Beach, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
107.2 mi
1h 55m
I 155
32 mi
34m
I 270
8.4 mi
9m
I 74
7 mi
8m
IL 111
1.7 mi
2m
Pontoon Road
0.5 mi
<1m
IL 29
0.2 mi
<1m
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 107.2 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pontoon Beach, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on this road
13 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right
56 ft·9 sec
3
Turn left onto Pontoon Road
0.5 mi·54 sec·Pontoon Road
4
Turn left onto IL 111
1.7 mi·2 min·IL 111
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 270 East: Effingham
6
Merge onto I 270
8.4 mi·9 min·I 270
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15BToward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
8
Merge onto I 55
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 55
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
Exit 127Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
11
Merge onto I 74
1.0 mi·1 min·I 74
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.0 mi·7 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
13
Take the exit onto IL 29
0.2 mi·23 sec·IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
14
Continue on Spalding Avenue
452 ft·20 sec·Spalding Avenue
15
Turn left onto IL 29
0.2 mi·16 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
For this approximately 3-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving any time in the morning should get you to Peoria with plenty of daylight to spare. With only 158.8 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $25, you likely won't need more than one fuel stop, if any. Keep an eye on your odometer as you transition between I-55, I-155, and I-270 to ensure you're on the correct interstate for Peoria.
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 79.4 miles from Pontoon Beach, IL, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.2 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.4 miles or 1h 28m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pontoon Beach, 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 Pontoon Beach, IL
This is one driving day of about 158.8 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Pontoon Beach, 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 107.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 152.4 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
6
11 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15B
Toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
7
118.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 155
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155 toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 127
Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
5
150.5 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
152.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.83 one way
$49.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.26
$54.52
premium
$4.89
$30.56
$61.12
diesel
$5.61
$35.06
$70.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.6
0
$16.67
$7.62
Efficient EV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.35
EV Truck/SUV
63.5
0
$22.23
$10.16
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 20, 2026
Origin
Pontoon Beach, IL
Late night
in Pontoon Beach on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
S 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 11:36AM CDT until April 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 11:36AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
75°F
Grandview, IL
79 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
9 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 56m 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?
This route is 99% highway, so expect to be on major interstates for nearly the entire 158.8 miles. The longest stretch you'll encounter is 107.2 miles on I-55. You'll experience a consistent cruising pace with minimal interruptions from surface streets. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate a steady flow of traffic and frequent, well-spaced exits.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 158.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.5 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pontoon Beach, IL and Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Hartsburg.
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 56m. Total distance: 158.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Peoria, 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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.5 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Peoria, IL before heading back.
