South Lawndale, IL to North Peoria, IL is 162.7 miles and takes about 3h 10m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Illinois entirely. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making for a relatively straightforward trip. With a drive time under four hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
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
81.3 miles from South Lawndale, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 South Lawndale, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on South Saint Louis Avenue
283 ft·24 sec·South Saint Louis Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 26th Street
0.6 mi·3 min·West 26th Street
3
Turn left onto South Pulaski Road
1.4 mi·2 min·South Pulaski Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 55 South
5
Merge onto I 55
1.2 mi·1 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi·27 sec·Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
7
Continue on I 55
122 mi·2 hr 19 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
12
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
13
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 10m estimated drive time, leaving any time in the morning should allow you to reach North Peoria with plenty of daylight remaining. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point or whenever you feel the need to stretch your legs. With a fuel cost estimated at $25, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 122.3-mile stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway where services might be less frequent. Since this is a single-day route, you have the flexibility to depart later in the day if needed, but be mindful of potential rush hour traffic when leaving South Lawndale.
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 81.3 miles from South Lawndale, IL, or about 1h 37m 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 36 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.3 miles or 1h 37m 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 36m
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 South Lawndale, 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 South Lawndale, IL
This is one driving day of about 162.7 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from South Lawndale, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 154.2 — 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|West 26th Street
Turn left onto West 26th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip|~3m in|South Pulaski Road
Turn left onto South Pulaski Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
126.2 mi into trip|~2h 28m 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
154.2 mi into trip|~2h 58m 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
$24.82 one way
$49.64 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$27.34
$54.68
premium
$4.81
$30.78
$61.57
diesel
$5.40
$34.61
$69.22
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: 56.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Efficient EV
40.7
0
$14.24
$6.51
EV Truck/SUV
65.1
0
$22.78
$10.41
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
South Lawndale, IL
Morning
in South Lawndale on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
61°F
Kempton, IL
81 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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 97% of the 162.7 miles spent on major expressways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway at 122.3 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. Expect a dense network of exits for much of the route, transitioning to surface roads like South Pulaski Road closer to your destination. The profile is mostly highway, indicating a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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 West 26th Street.
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 10m 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 (West 26th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (South Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 162.7 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 21 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 (West 26th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (South Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
