West Garfield Park, IL to North Peoria, IL is 164.7 miles and takes about 3h 12m 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 Illinois, moving from the Midwest region of Chicago's west side to the Peoria area. Given its high percentage of highway driving and relatively short duration, this route is best suited for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward transit between these two points.
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
82.3 miles from West Garfield Park, 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
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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 West Garfield Park, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on West Madison Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·West Madison Street
2
Turn right onto South Pulaski Road
3.9 mi·7 min·South Pulaski Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 55 South
4
Merge onto I 55
1.2 mi·1 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi·27 sec·Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
6
Continue on I 55
122 mi·2 hr 19 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
11
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
12
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
This 3h 12m drive is easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in North Peoria with plenty of daylight left. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $25, you won't need to plan extensive breaks or frequent refueling. Keep an eye out for the transition from the interstate to local roads as you get closer to North Peoria, as this is where you'll exit the main highway system.
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 82.3 miles from West Garfield Park, 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 82.3 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 37m
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 West Garfield Park, 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 West Garfield Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 164.7 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from West Garfield Park, 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 162.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Pulaski Road
Turn right onto South Pulaski Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.5 mi into trip|~8m 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
128.3 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
156.2 mi into trip|~3h 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
4
162.9 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Take the exit toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.13 one way
$50.25 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$27.67
$55.35
premium
$4.81
$31.16
$62.33
diesel
$5.40
$35.03
$70.07
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: 57.6 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
49.4
0
$17.29
$7.91
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.41
$6.59
EV Truck/SUV
65.9
0
$23.06
$10.54
Gas CO2
58 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
West Garfield Park, IL
Late night
in West Garfield Park on Sunday
Local time
4:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Late night
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
4:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:36PM CDT until April 26 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 7:32PM CDT until April 30 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
14 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
3h 12m 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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 5.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 96% of this route on highways, expect mostly continuous interstate travel for the majority of your drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 122.3 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. You'll likely encounter frequent exits and entrance ramps as you navigate the interstate system. The transition to surface roads will occur late in the drive as you approach your destination.
96% 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: 122.3 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 0.2 miles in near South Pulaski Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Pulaski Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 164.7 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 0.2 miles (South Pulaski Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
