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Trip from Cincinnati, IL to Peoria, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 39m

Distance

223.4 mi

360 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 26m ★
6 AM
4h 40m
8 AM
5h 7m
10 AM
4h 49m
12 PM
4h 46m
3 PM
4h 50m
5 PM
5h 5m
8 PM
4h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Ohio, United States; county seat of Hamilton County

Cincinnati, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Peoria, IL, IL

Peoria, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cincinnati, IL to Peoria, IL covers 223.4 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 155, I 55, Ken Gray Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32 miles on I 155. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.93 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

111.7 miles from Cincinnati, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 155 32 mi 34m
I 55 30 mi 32m
Ken Gray Expressway 21.5 mi 23m
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: I 155 — 32 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cincinnati, IL and Peoria, IL.

1

Start on County Road 1000N

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 1000N
2

Turn left onto 900E

2.0 mi · 4 min · 900E
3

Turn right onto IL 15

3.8 mi · 5 min · County Road 800 North
4

Continue on IL 15

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
5

Turn right onto IL 15

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Robinson Avenue
6

Continue on IL 15

0.3 mi · 25 sec · County Road 610 North
7

Continue on IL 15

4.8 mi · 7 min · County Road 600 North
8

Continue on IL 15

3.5 mi · 5 min · Fairfield Road
9

Continue on IL 15

7.0 mi · 10 min · New Fairfield Road
10

Continue on IL 15

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
11

Turn straight onto IL 15

2.2 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street
12

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 21 sec
13

Merge onto I 57; I 64

1.1 mi · 1 min · Ken Gray Expressway
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

20 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
16

Merge onto US 50

2.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
17

Continue on US 50

2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street
18

Continue on US 50

2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar
19

Turn right onto US 51

10 mi · 11 min · 150E
20

Continue on US 51

13 mi · 15 min · 300E
21

Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185

0.5 mi · 35 sec · US 40; US 51; IL 185
22

Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185

1.6 mi · 1 min · North Kennedy Boulevard
23

Continue on US 51

11 mi · 12 min · County Road 875 East
24

Continue on US 51

15 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street
25

Continue on US 51

2.0 mi · 2 min · County Road 2400 East
26

Continue on US 51

0.6 mi · 2 min · Fair Avenue
27

Continue on US 51

0.3 mi · 29 sec · South Poplar Street
28

Turn left onto IL 16

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 2nd Street
29

Turn right onto South State Street

0.2 mi · 52 sec · South State Street
30

Turn left onto IL 29

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Washington Street
31

Continue on IL 29

5.4 mi · 7 min · N 2000 East Road
32

Continue on IL 29

5.1 mi · 7 min · State Route 29
33

Continue on East Park Street

5.3 mi · 7 min · East Park Street
34

Turn right onto IL 29

0.4 mi · 32 sec · North Webster Street
35

Continue on IL 29

16 mi · 18 min · West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
36

Continue on IL 29

1.3 mi · 1 min · IL 29
Use the straight lane.
37

Continue on IL 29

5.4 mi · 7 min · IL 29
Use the straight lane.
38

Continue on IL 29

0.5 mi · 41 sec · IL 29
Use the straight lane.
39

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 55 North, I 72 East
40

Merge onto I 55; I 72; US 36

30 mi · 32 min · I 55; I 72; US 36
41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 155

32 mi · 34 min · I 155
Exit 127 Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
42

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
43

Merge onto I 74

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 74
44

Keep slight right at fork onto I 74

6.0 mi · 7 min · I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
45

Take the exit onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 23 sec · IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
46

Continue on Spalding Avenue

452 ft · 20 sec · Spalding Avenue
47

Turn left onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue
48

Arrive at destination

Northeast Jefferson 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 111.7 miles from Cincinnati, IL, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32 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 49 miles or 1h 10m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 111.7 miles or 2h 22m 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 54m

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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati, IL

This is one driving day of about 223.4 miles and 4h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Cincinnati, 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 155 for about 32 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Lakewood, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakewood, IL

112 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

Odin, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakewood, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 111.7 miles from Cincinnati, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Honey Sugar's Cafe, LLC

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Peoria, Illinois

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 223.4

Hours: 11:30 am–8 pm

+13096431089

Visit website

Cancun

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Sherman, Illinois

0.7 mi

Haddad's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Peoria, Illinois

1.2 mi

Honey Sugar's Cafe, LLC

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 223.4

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–8 pm

+13096431089

Visit website

Cancun

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately mile 159.6

Sherman, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12174963221

Visit website

Haddad's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 223.4

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+13096725339

One World

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 223.4

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 7:30 am–8 pm

+13096721522

Visit website

Spring Garden Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 111.7

Pana, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+12175623999

Whiskey Bill's Saloon and Liquor Emporium, LLC

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 111.7

Pana, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+12175629388

Visit website

Subway

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour Inexpensiv mile 111.7

Pana, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+12175623311

Visit website

Champs Chicken

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 111.7

Pana, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+12175624688

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 223.4

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 223.4

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 223.4

East Peoria, Illinois

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 223.4

Peoria, Illinois

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 223.4

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 223.4

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13094948850

Visit website

Holiday Inn Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 223.4

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 223.4

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 29 and 183.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
29 mi into trip | ~49m 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
49.5 mi into trip | ~1h 11m 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
113.2 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in | IL 29 / West Washington Street

Turn left onto IL 29 / West Washington Street

Navigation decision point

5
152.6 mi into trip | ~3h 20m in

Take the exit toward I 55 North, I 72 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 55 North, I 72 East
7
183.1 mi into trip | ~3h 54m 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

$34.93 one way

$69.85 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $38.35 $76.69
premium $4.89 $42.99 $85.98
diesel $5.61 $49.32 $98.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 78.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 67 0 $23.46 $10.72
Efficient EV 55.9 0 $19.55 $8.94
EV Truck/SUV 89.4 1 $31.28 $14.30

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 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 15, 2026

Origin

Cincinnati, IL

Afternoon in Cincinnati on Saturday

Local time

3:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Peoria, IL

Afternoon in Peoria on Saturday

Local time

3:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

20 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 39m 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

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 ~6 min detour Free near mile 153.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

223.4 mi in 4h 39m — 46% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 155.

46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32 mi on I 155.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 29 miles in near I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 20 significant decision points across 223.4 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 29 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.2 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Cincinnati, IL and Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Hartsburg.

Sandoval

49.5 mi in | ~1h 11m

Hartsburg

183.1 mi in | ~3h 54m | via I 155

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 223.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 32 miles on I 155. 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.

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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 29 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.2 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Peoria, IL to Cincinnati, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

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