South Shore, IL to North Peoria, IL is 168 miles and takes about 3h 16m via I-55, I-74, and I-80, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major interstates, making it a practical choice for a quick transition between these two areas. It's designed for efficiency, so if you're looking for a no-fuss way to cover the distance, this route fits the bill.
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
84 miles from South Shore, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
86.6 mi
1h 33m
I 74
34.1 mi
37m
I 80
25.3 mi
30m
I 57
13.4 mi
18m
East 87th Street
2.1 mi
4m
South Stony Island Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
North Knoxville Avenue
1 mi
1m
Dan Ryan Expressway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 86.6 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-55
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 Shore, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on South Euclid Avenue
188 ft·10 sec·South Euclid Avenue
2
Turn right onto East 73rd Street
500 ft·25 sec·East 73rd Street
3
Turn right onto South Jeffery Boulevard
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Jeffery Boulevard
4
Turn right onto East 75th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 75th Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto South Stony Island Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·South Stony Island Avenue
6
Turn right onto East 87th Street
2.1 mi·4 min·East 87th Street
7
Turn left onto South Lafayette Avenue
438 ft·10 sec·South Lafayette Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 94 East
9
Merge onto I 94
0.8 mi·1 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
13 mi·18 min·I 57
Exit 63Toward I 57 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 345BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 80
25 mi·30 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
14
Merge onto I 55
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
19
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
20
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 3h 16m duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample time at your destination. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in deciding when and where to take a break, though planning for fuel around the 86.6-mile stretch on I-55 is a good idea. The $26 fuel estimate suggests keeping an eye on gas prices as you depart South Shore, potentially filling up before hitting the road.
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 84 miles from South Shore, IL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.6 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 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 43m 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 41m
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 Shore, 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 Shore, IL
This is one driving day of about 168 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from South Shore, 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 86.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 131.6 — 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|East 73rd Street
Turn right onto East 73rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|East 75th Street
Turn right onto East 75th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
5.6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
7
19 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
6
131.6 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.63 one way
$51.26 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$28.23
$56.46
premium
$4.81
$31.79
$63.58
diesel
$5.40
$35.74
$71.47
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: 58.8 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
50.4
0
$17.64
$8.06
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.70
$6.72
EV Truck/SUV
67.2
0
$23.52
$10.75
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
South Shore, IL
Late night
in South Shore on Sunday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Slight Chance Drizzle then Mostly Sunny
N 15 to 20 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 4:40AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 4:39AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Late night
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
NE 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 4:40AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 4:39AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
27 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 16m 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 route is almost entirely highway, with 95% of the travel occurring on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 86.6 miles on I-55, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. The drive transitions to surface roads for the final 5% of the trip, likely as you approach your destination in North Peoria. Expect a lot of exits and merging as you navigate these busy interstate corridors.
95% 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: 86.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 73rd Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 168 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 (East 73rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East 75th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 168 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 North 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 73rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East 75th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
