The drive from Zeigler, IL to North Peoria, IL covers 234.3 miles and takes about 4h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ken Gray Expressway, I 155, I 55 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.4 miles on Ken Gray Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
117.2 miles from Zeigler, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ken Gray Expressway
51.4 mi
55m
I 155
32 mi
34m
I 55
30 mi
32m
West Springfield Road
15.7 mi
18m
South Superior Street
15.1 mi
17m
300E
13.5 mi
15m
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi
12m
150E
10.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 51.4 mi, about 55m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,955 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,420
Quietest
2 AM
~176 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Zeigler, IL and North Peoria, IL.
1
Start on Circle Street
492 ft·15 sec·Circle Street
2
Continue on South Main Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto IL 149
0.4 mi·44 sec·Linden Street
4
Continue on IL 149
5.5 mi·9 min·Illinois Route 149
5
Enter roundabout onto IL 149
108 ft·2 sec·Illinois Route 149
6
Continue on IL 149
0.2 mi·25 sec·Illinois Route 149
7
Enter roundabout
0.2 mi·17 sec
8
Continue
0.3 mi·41 sec
9
Merge onto I 57
31 mi·33 min·Ken Gray Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi·22 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
12
Merge onto US 50
2.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
13
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·East Poplar Street
14
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·Poplar
15
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi·11 min·150E
16
Continue on US 51
13 mi·15 min·300E
17
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi·35 sec·US 40; US 51; IL 185
18
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi·1 min·North Kennedy Boulevard
19
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
20
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·South Superior Street
21
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 East
22
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
23
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Poplar Street
24
Turn left onto IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
25
Turn right onto South State Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·South State Street
26
Turn left onto IL 29
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Washington Street
27
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
28
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
29
Continue on East Park Street
5.3 mi·7 min·East Park Street
30
Turn right onto IL 29
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Webster Street
31
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·18 min·West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on IL 29
0.5 mi·41 sec·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
35
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Toward I 55 North, I 72 East
36
Merge onto I 55; I 72; US 36
30 mi·32 min·I 55; I 72; US 36
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
Exit 127Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
39
Merge onto I 74
1.0 mi·1 min·I 74
40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 74
6.7 mi·8 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
41
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 40 North: Knoxville Avenue
42
Turn straight onto IL 40
1.0 mi·1 min·North Knoxville Avenue
43
Turn right onto East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East McClure Avenue
44
Arrive at destination
East McClure Avenue
Trip Plan
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 117.2 miles from Zeigler, IL, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.4 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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.2 miles or 2h 15m 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 51m
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 Zeigler, 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 Zeigler, IL
This is one driving day of about 234.3 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Zeigler, 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 Ken Gray Expressway for about 51.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.5 and 192 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
37.9 mi into trip|~46m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
58.4 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
5
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|IL 29 / West Washington Street
Turn left onto IL 29 / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
7
192 mi into trip|~3h 51m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.74 one way
$71.49 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$39.37
$78.74
premium
$4.81
$44.33
$88.67
diesel
$5.40
$49.84
$99.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.3
0
$24.60
$11.25
Efficient EV
58.6
0
$20.50
$9.37
EV Truck/SUV
93.7
1
$32.80
$15.00
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 25, 2026
Origin
Zeigler, IL
Morning
in Zeigler on Sunday
Local time
8:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 3 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT until May 1 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
North Peoria, IL
Morning
in North Peoria on Sunday
Local time
8:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT until May 1 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:06PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
7 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 40m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 161.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
234.3 mi in 4h 40m — 60% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Ken Gray Expressway.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.4 mi on Ken Gray Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 234.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 37.9 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Zeigler, IL and North Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Hartsburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 234.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.4 miles on Ken Gray 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.
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 North 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 37.9 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at North Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
