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Trip from Waverly, IL to Peoria, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

102.1 mi

164 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 52m ★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 18m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Waverly, IL, IL

Waverly, IL

Choco Kitty

Downtown Peoria, IL, IL

Peoria, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Waverly, IL to Peoria, IL is 102.1 miles and takes about 2h 1m via I 55 and I 155, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Illinois, connecting two points in the central part of the state. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll find the drive efficient, making it a practical choice for getting between these two locations without a major time commitment.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

51 miles from Waverly, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 44.7 mi 48m
I 155 32 mi 34m
East Elm Street 16.5 mi 25m
I 74 7 mi 8m
IL 29 0.2 mi <1m
Northeast Jefferson Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Spalding Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
South Grove Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 44.7 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, IL and Peoria, IL.

1

Start on East State Street

393 ft · 17 sec · East State Street
2

Turn right onto South Grove Street

409 ft · 23 sec · South Grove Street
3

Turn left onto IL 104

16 mi · 25 min · East Elm Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4

Turn left

0.4 mi · 54 sec
5

Merge onto I 55

45 mi · 48 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 right at fork onto I 74

6.0 mi · 7 min · I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
10

Take the exit onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 23 sec · IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
11

Continue on Spalding Avenue

452 ft · 20 sec · Spalding Avenue
12

Turn left onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

Northeast Jefferson Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 1 minute, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart Waverly, IL at your leisure. The 102.1-mile journey doesn't necessitate strict timing for stops, though it's always wise to take breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 44.7 miles on I 55; ensure you fill up before leaving Waverly or as needed in Peoria. This route is well-suited for a morning departure, allowing you to arrive in Peoria with plenty of the day remaining.

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 51 miles from Waverly, IL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.7 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 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51 miles or 1h 3m 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 38m

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 Waverly, 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 Waverly, IL

This is one driving day of about 102.1 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Waverly, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 44.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Riverton, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Riverton, IL

51 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

Springfield, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Riverton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51 miles from Waverly, 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 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 101.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 104 / East Elm Street

Turn left onto IL 104 / East Elm Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
7
61.8 mi into trip | ~1h 15m 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
93.7 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West: Peoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 74 West: Peoria
5
95.7 mi into trip | ~1h 52m 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
5
101.9 mi into trip | ~2h in | IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue

Turn left onto IL 29 / Northeast Jefferson Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.96 one way

$31.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.53 $35.05
premium $4.89 $19.65 $39.30
diesel $5.61 $22.54 $45.08

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: 35.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.6 0 $10.72 $4.90
Efficient EV 25.5 0 $8.93 $4.08
EV Truck/SUV 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 20, 2026

Origin

Waverly, IL

Late night in Waverly on Tuesday

Local time

4:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Peoria, IL

Late night in Peoria on Tuesday

Local time

4:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Riverton, IL

51 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

18 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

2h 1m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 82% of it being on interstates. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey, including a longest stretch of 44.7 miles on I 55. Expect smooth sailing on these main arteries, which are designed for efficient travel. The character of the road remains largely consistent, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic byways.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.7 mi on I 55.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near IL 104 / East Elm Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 (IL 104 / East Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 61.8 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.7 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.

On the drive from Waverly, IL to Peoria, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Hartsburg along the way.

Hartsburg

61.8 mi in | ~1h 15m | via I 155

About the Cities

Arriving in Peoria, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1680

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.

Top landmarks

  • Madison Theatre — theater and former movie theater in Peoria, Illinois, United States
  • Hotel Père Marquette — hotel in downtown Peoria, Illinois
  • Illinois Waterway Project Office — U.S. Army Core of Engineers facility in Peoria, Illinois

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 2h 1m. Total distance: 102.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 44.7 miles on I 55. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (IL 104 / East Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 61.8 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Peoria, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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