Origin
Western Springs, IL
Late night in Western Springs on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Western Springs, IL to Peoria, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
151.4 mi
244 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Western Springs, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Peoria, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Western Springs, IL to Peoria, IL is 151.4 miles and takes about 2h 54m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-74, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, covering 151.4 miles entirely within Illinois. Expect a straightforward drive with a high percentage of highway travel. With only one recommended stop and a duration under three hours, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule.
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
75.7 miles from Western Springs, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 113 mi | 2h 6m |
| I 74 | 33.4 mi | 36m |
| Wolf Road | 3 mi | 6m |
| Joliet Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| IL 29 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northeast Jefferson Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spalding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hillgrove Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 113 mi, about 2h 6m
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Western Springs, IL and Peoria, IL.
1
Start on Walnut Street
178 ft
·
10 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto Hillgrove Avenue
380 ft
·
16 sec
·
Hillgrove Avenue
3
Turn right onto Wolf Road
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Wolf Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Joliet Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Joliet Road
Toward I 294 North
5
Keep slight left at fork onto Joliet Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Joliet Road
Toward I 55 South
6
Merge onto I 55
113 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 74
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 74
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.0 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 2h 54m drive time, leaving Western Springs in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. The route is efficient, so you likely won't need more than one planned stop, which could be a quick fuel or restroom break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $23 estimated cost suggests efficient travel, but it's always wise to top off before a significant highway stretch. Since this is a shorter, single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but aim to avoid peak commuter times leaving the Chicago area if possible.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.7 miles from Western Springs, IL, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 33 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.7 miles or 1h 29m 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 23m
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 Western Springs, 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 Western Springs, IL
This is one driving day of about 151.4 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Western Springs, 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 113 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.7 miles from Western Springs, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 145 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Wolf Road
Turn right onto Wolf Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Joliet Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Joliet Road toward I 55 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South
5
4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
117 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m 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
145 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m 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
$23.10 one way
$46.19 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $25.44 | $50.88 |
| premium | $4.81 | $28.65 | $57.29 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $32.21 | $64.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.90 | $7.27 |
| Efficient EV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.25 | $6.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.20 | $9.69 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Peoria, IL
Late night in Peoria on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Pontiac, IL
76 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
1 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 54m 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 almost entirely on highways, with a 97% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on high-speed roads, including a continuous stretch of 113 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The transition to surface roads will only occur in the final miles as you approach Peoria. Be prepared for frequent exits and entrances as you navigate the interstate system.
97% 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: 113 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 74. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Wolf Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 151.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (Wolf Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (Joliet Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Western Springs, IL
Full guide →Western Springs is a village in Chicagoland.
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 54m. Total distance: 151.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Wolf Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (Joliet Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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