Connecting Rock Island to Peoria, this 100.8-mile journey through the Illinois Midwest takes roughly 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. Because the route is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly way to travel between these two cities. You will navigate via 2nd Avenue, 16th Street, and 1st Avenue rather than relying on major interstates. It is an ideal option if you prefer a direct local connection over the monotony of high-speed transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from Rock Island, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
78.7 mi
1h 25m
I 280
15.8 mi
16m
Centennial Expressway
3.8 mi
4m
Fayette Street
0.4 mi
1m
1st Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
2nd Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
16th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rock Island, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on US 67
293 ft·10 sec·15th Street
2
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
408 ft·19 sec·2nd Avenue
3
Turn left onto 16th Street
401 ft·18 sec·16th Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto IL 92
0.2 mi·27 sec·1st Avenue
5
Continue on IL 92
3.8 mi·4 min·Centennial Expressway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 280 East: Chicago
7
Merge onto I 280
16 mi·16 min·I 280
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 74
Toward I 74 East: Peoria
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward IL 40 South: Downtown Peoria
10
Continue on Fayette Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Fayette Street
11
Turn right onto Northeast Jefferson Avenue
367 ft·7 sec·Northeast Jefferson Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 36-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about complex stop-planning or long-haul rest breaks, as the distance is short enough to manage in a single stretch. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between 2nd Avenue, 16th Street, and 1st Avenue to ensure you stay on the correct local path. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, it is wise to check your tire pressure before leaving to handle the frequent cornering comfortably. Enjoy the simplicity of this short Midwestern drive by keeping your itinerary light and your focus on the road ahead.
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 50 miles from Rock Island, IL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 55m 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 30m
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 Rock Island, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rock Island, IL
This is one driving day of about 100.1 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Rock Island, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 74 for about 78.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 20.4 — 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|2nd Avenue
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|16th Street
Turn left onto 16th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 92 / 1st Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto IL 92 / 1st Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
4.2 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 280 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 280 East: Chicago
5
20.4 mi into trip|~23m in|I 74
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74 toward I 74 East: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 East: Peoria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.65 one way
$31.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.18
$34.37
premium
$4.89
$19.26
$38.53
diesel
$5.61
$22.10
$44.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.51
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.76
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$14.01
$6.41
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Rock Island, IL
Late night
in Rock Island on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, IL
Late night
in Peoria on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
17 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
1h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising on long, straight interstates, but rather navigating through the regional landscape at a more measured pace. The lack of highway stretches means the road personality is defined by consistent turns and local navigation. You should prepare for a drive that demands your full attention as you transition between city streets and secondary roads. This route offers a consistent feel from start to finish, requiring you to stay alert through every turn.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.7 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and I 280. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 2nd Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 8 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 (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IL 92 / 1st Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Rock Island is one of the Quad Cities in Western Illinois. Downtown Rock Island has art galleries and theaters, nightclubs and coffee shops, and restaurants of all flavors. Golf courses, parks, a casino, botanical center, marina, historic tours, bike paths, and festivals offer entertainment opportunities.
Top landmarks
•Lock and Dam No. 15 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenpor...
•Black Hawk State Historic Site — state park in Illinois, USA
•Black Hawk Museum and Lodge — historic building in Rock Island, Illinois, USA
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.
The longest stretch is about 78.7 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IL 92 / 1st Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Peoria, IL before heading back.
