If you are planning a trip from York to South Pekin, expect a straightforward 200.1-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 20 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $30 for fuel to cover the distance across these Illinois locales. The route primarily utilizes I-74, IL-1, and Georgetown Road to navigate the region efficiently. Because it is a manageable drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience and arrive in South Pekin with plenty of daylight left for your plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
100 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
114.6 mi
2h 4m
IL 1
31.3 mi
46m
Georgetown Road
29.8 mi
44m
North 2nd Street
5.6 mi
10m
I 474
5.1 mi
5m
Radio City Drive
3.6 mi
5m
IL Route 1
2.4 mi
6m
East 150th Road
1.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 114.6 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between York, IL and South Pekin, IL.
1
Start on North York Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North York Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·West Broadway Street
3
Continue on East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
4
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
31 mi·46 min·IL 1
5
Continue on US 150; IL 1
2.4 mi·6 min·IL Route 1
6
Continue on US 150; IL 1
10 mi·14 min·Georgetown Road
7
Continue on US 150; IL 1
0.3 mi·28 sec·1575 E US 36
8
Continue on US 150; IL 1
6.1 mi·9 min·Georgetown Road
9
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.9 mi·2 min·North State Street
10
Continue on US 150; IL 1
14 mi·20 min·Georgetown Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·41 sec
Toward I 74 West: Champaign
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 74 West
13
Merge onto I 74
86 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 74
14
Take the exit onto I 74
28 mi·30 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474
5.1 mi·5 min·I 474
Exit 99Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria
17
Turn left onto IL 29
0.1 mi·12 sec·South Main Street
18
Continue on IL 29
2.1 mi·3 min·Radio City Drive
19
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 29
1.5 mi·2 min·Radio City Drive
20
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi·50 sec·North 8th Street
21
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi·35 sec·North 5th Street
22
Turn right onto IL 29
0.3 mi·29 sec·Ann Eliza Street
23
Turn left onto IL 29
5.6 mi·10 min·North 2nd Street
24
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 20-minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route relies heavily on I-74, keep an eye on traffic reports before you leave to avoid any unexpected delays on the busier interstate segments. Fueling up before you merge onto the longest 114.6-mile stretch of I-74 is a smart move to avoid unnecessary stops later. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to leave mid-morning and still reach South Pekin by the afternoon. Focus on maintaining a steady pace, and you will find the drive manageable and stress-free.
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 100 miles from York, IL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.6 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 44 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Pekin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving York, 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 York, IL
This is one driving day of about 200.1 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from York, 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 74 for about 114.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 188.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Broadway Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip|~9m in|IL 1
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West
7
183.3 mi into trip|~3h 55m 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
188.4 mi into trip|~4h 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
$31.28 one way
$62.57 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.35
$68.70
premium
$4.89
$38.51
$77.01
diesel
$5.61
$44.18
$88.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
1
$28.01
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
York, IL
Late night
in York on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Pekin, IL
Late night
in South Pekin on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
4h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 77% of your travel time spent on major routes. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 114.6 miles along I-74. While the interstate segments offer a fast and consistent pace, transitioning onto IL-1 and Georgetown Road provides a shift in the driving experience. Expect a mix of high-speed interstate cruising and the more localized feel of regional roads as you move through the Illinois landscape. The transition between these road types keeps the drive from feeling monotonous while ensuring you make steady progress toward your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.6 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and IL 1. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Broadway Street.
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 200.1 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 0.1 miles (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
816 ft514 ft
Total Climb
151 ft
Total Descent
363 ft
Highest Point
816 ft
~157.2 mi in
Elevation Range
302 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between York, IL and South Pekin, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Peoria.
Rock Island
183.3 mi in|~3h 55m|via I 474
Peoria
188.4 mi in|~4h
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 200.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 114.6 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at South Pekin, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
