Origin
Springfield, IL
Afternoon in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Springfield, IL to North Pekin, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
72.8 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
North Pekin, IL
Cheng Shi Song
Trip Overview
Springfield, IL to North Pekin, IL is 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m via I-155, I-55, and I-474, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal complexity, making it a convenient option for a quick transit between these two points. The route is primarily highway, so you'll be covering ground efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 155 | 32 mi | 34m |
| I 55 | 29.2 mi | 31m |
| I 474 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| I 74 | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Radio City Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 155
— 32 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and North Pekin, IL.
1
Start on East Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto North 12th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 12th Street
3
Turn straight onto IL 97
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 155
Exit 127
Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
8
Merge onto I 74
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 74
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 474
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria
11
Turn left onto IL 29
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
South Main Street
12
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Radio City Drive
13
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Springfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 71.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 12th Street
Turn left onto North 12th Street
Navigation decision point
7
32.2 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
64.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
7
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
I 474
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474 toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.38 one way
$22.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.01 | $28.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.07 | $32.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.19 | $4.66 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (64% 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.
Destination
North Pekin, IL
Afternoon in North Pekin on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
31 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 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 92% of the 72.8 miles on interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 32 miles on I-155 before transitioning to other major roadways. The high highway share means you'll likely experience a consistent cruising speed with fewer interruptions from traffic lights or stop signs until you approach your destination. Expect to merge onto I-55 and then I-474, common highway maneuvers.
92% 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: 32 mi on I 155.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 155 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North 12th Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.8 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Springfield, IL and North Pekin, IL, road signs point toward Hartsburg and Rock Island.
Hartsburg
32.2 mi in
|
~38m
|
via I 155
Rock Island
66 mi in
|
~1h 15m
|
via I 474
About the Cities
Starting in Springfield, IL
Full guide →Springfield is a city in the center of the state of Illinois. It is the state's capital — not Chicago — and the county seat of Sangamon County. Springfield is best known for its most famous resident, Abraham Lincoln, and there are several historic sites that are dedicated to him.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 72.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32 miles on I 155. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Pekin, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 North Pekin, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From North Pekin, IL
Explore more options from Springfield, IL or browse trips ending in North Pekin, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.