Willowbrook, IL to North Peoria, IL is 158 miles and takes about 3h 12m via I 55 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traveling entirely within Illinois. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward drive. Plan for a single day trip; the duration and distance are manageable for most drivers. Consider this a practical option for getting between these two Illinois locations efficiently.
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
79 miles from Willowbrook, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
77.4 mi
1h 22m
I 74
34.1 mi
37m
West Wilmington Road
13.7 mi
19m
South Governors Highway
4.8 mi
6m
Calumet Expressway
4.7 mi
6m
West Pauling Road
4.3 mi
6m
West Peotone Road
4 mi
5m
New River Road
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 22m
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 Willowbrook, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on Longwood Drive
329 ft·19 sec·Longwood Drive
2
Turn left onto Buried Oak Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Buried Oak Drive
3
Turn left onto Challas Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Challas Drive
4
At end of road, turn right onto South State Line Road
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Line Road
5
Turn right onto CH 49
2.0 mi·3 min·East Exchange Street
6
Turn left onto Stoney Island Avenue
180 ft·5 sec·Stoney Island Avenue
7
Turn right onto East Burville Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Burville Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto IL 394
0.1 mi·11 sec·Calumet Expressway
9
Take the exit
108 ft·14 sec
10
Turn left onto IL 394
4.5 mi·6 min·Calumet Expressway
11
Turn right onto CH 23
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
12
Continue on CH 23
2.1 mi·3 min·West Goodenow Road
13
Continue on CH 23
4.2 mi·6 min·West Pauling Road
14
Continue on CH 23
442 ft·17 sec·West Pauling Road
15
Turn left onto IL 50
4.3 mi·5 min·South Governors Highway
16
Continue on IL 50
0.7 mi·1 min·North Harlem Avenue
17
Continue on IL 50
0.5 mi·55 sec·South Governors Highway
18
Turn right onto CH 25
14 mi·19 min·West Wilmington Road
19
Continue on CH 25
4.0 mi·5 min·West Peotone Road
20
Turn right onto IL 53
0.5 mi·48 sec·South Chicago Road
21
Turn left onto CH 44
2.3 mi·3 min·New River Road
22
Continue on CH 44
1.4 mi·1 min·North River Road
23
Continue on CH 44
0.3 mi·25 sec·County Highway 44
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
25
Merge onto I 55
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: PeoriaUse the slight right lane.
27
Continue on I 74
27 mi·29 min·I 74
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
30
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
31
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3h 12m drive, leaving Willowbrook in the morning is a good bet, allowing you to arrive in North Peoria with plenty of daylight. With only 158 miles, you can easily complete this in one day without needing extensive stops. The $24 fuel estimate is a helpful budget point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 77.4-mile stretch on I 55, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The transition from I 55 to I 74 is a key point to be aware of for navigation.
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 79 miles from Willowbrook, IL, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 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 35 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 1h 44m 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 38m
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 Willowbrook, 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 Willowbrook, IL
This is one driving day of about 158 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Willowbrook, 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 77.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 149.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Buried Oak Drive
Turn left onto Buried Oak Drive
Navigation decision point
5
43.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
44.2 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
121.6 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
149.6 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.10 one way
$48.21 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$26.55
$53.10
premium
$4.81
$29.90
$59.79
diesel
$5.40
$33.61
$67.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.4
0
$16.59
$7.58
Efficient EV
39.5
0
$13.83
$6.32
EV Truck/SUV
63.2
0
$22.12
$10.11
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Willowbrook, IL
Afternoon
in Willowbrook on Sunday
Local time
3:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Afternoon
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
3:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 11:09AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 11:09AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
61°F
Kempton, IL
79 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
34 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 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 74% of the drive on interstates like I 55 and I 74. You'll experience a longest stretch of 77.4 miles on I 55 before transitioning to other roads. The majority of your time will be spent cruising on these high-speed corridors. Expect to see a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits as you approach your destination in North Peoria.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Buried Oak Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
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 158 miles you will encounter 19 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 (Buried Oak Drive): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 44.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 158 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 0.1 miles (Buried Oak Drive): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 44.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
