Portage Park, IL to North Peoria, IL is 170 miles and takes about 3h 24m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-74, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Illinois, taking you from the Chicago metropolitan area into central Illinois. The majority of this trip is on the highway, making it a straightforward drive for those looking for efficiency. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this is a good option for a single-day trip.
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
85 miles from Portage Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,093 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,450
Quietest
2 AM
~146 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 43 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 Portage Park, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on West Hutchinson Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·West Hutchinson Street
2
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
2.7 mi·5 min·North Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Grand Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·West Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on West Grand Avenue
0.4 mi·53 sec·West Grand Avenue
5
Turn right onto IL 50
6.6 mi·13 min·North Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
162 ft·2 sec·Stevenson Expressway
8
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi·27 sec·Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
9
Continue on I 55
122 mi·2 hr 19 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
14
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
15
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 24m drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day, so leaving in the morning allows for flexibility. The longest stretch on the highway is over 122 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before or during that segment if your vehicle's range is a concern. With only one recommended stop and a reasonable fuel cost of $26, this trip is quite economical. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the worst of the Chicago area rush hour traffic, especially if you're starting from Portage Park.
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 85 miles from Portage Park, IL, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.3 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 37 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85 miles or 1h 47m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Peoria, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Portage Park, 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 Portage Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 170 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Portage Park, 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 122.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 161.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Central Avenue
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in|West Grand Avenue
Turn left onto West Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.9 mi into trip|~8m in|IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Turn right onto IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 12m 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
$25.94 one way
$51.87 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$28.57
$57.13
premium
$4.81
$32.17
$64.33
diesel
$5.40
$36.16
$72.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.85
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.80
$10.88
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 25, 2026
Origin
Portage Park, IL
Late night
in Portage Park on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Late night
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live 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
12 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 24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 11.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with 92% of the 170 miles taking place on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 122.3 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway before transitioning to I-74. Expect a fairly continuous highway experience until you get closer to North Peoria, where the landscape will likely shift from open highway cruising to more developed areas with frequent exits.
92% 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: 122.3 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Central Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 170 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 122.3 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
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: at 0.1 miles (North Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue): 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 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
