Origin
North Peoria, IL
Afternoon in North Peoria on Saturday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Peoria, IL to Pleasant Grove, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
265.2 mi
427 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 17m
8 AM
5h 44m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 28m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Peoria, IL
Tom Fisk
Pleasant Grove, IL
Ali Soheil
Trip Overview
The drive from North Peoria, IL to Pleasant Grove, IL covers 265.2 miles and takes about 5h 17m 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 mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.8 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.46 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
132.6 miles from North Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Gray Expressway | 46.8 mi | 50m |
| I 155 | 31.8 mi | 34m |
| I 55 | 30.2 mi | 32m |
| I 57 | 24.5 mi | 26m |
| IL 29 | 23.1 mi | 31m |
| 300 East Road | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| IL 37 | 13.5 mi | 19m |
| United States Highway 51 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 46.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Peoria, IL and Pleasant Grove, IL.
1
Start on East McClure Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East McClure Avenue
2
Turn left onto IL 40
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Knoxville Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bloomington
4
Merge onto I 74
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 74
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
6
Continue on I 155
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 155
7
Merge onto I 55
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
9
Merge onto IL 29
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 29
10
Continue on IL 29
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
IL 29
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 29
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on IL 29
16 mi
·
19 min
·
IL 29
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Webster Street
14
Turn left onto IL 29
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
West Park Street
15
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 29
16
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
N 2000 East Road
17
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
18
Turn right onto North Poplar Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Poplar Street
19
Turn straight onto US 51
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Avenue
20
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 2400 E
21
Continue on US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
300 East Road
22
Continue on US 51
11 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 875 East
23
Continue on US 51
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
24
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Gallatin Street
25
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
26
Continue on US 51
13 mi
·
15 min
·
United States Highway 51
27
Continue on US 51
10 mi
·
11 min
·
250E
28
Turn left onto US 50
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
US 50
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
30
Merge onto I 57
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 57
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 45
Toward IL 148
33
Turn right onto IL 148
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
IL 148
34
Continue on IL 37
14 mi
·
19 min
·
IL 37
35
Turn slight right
117 ft
·
4 sec
36
Turn straight onto IL 146
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Vine Street
37
Turn right onto Pleasant Grove Road
383 ft
·
16 sec
·
Pleasant Grove Road
38
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Grove Road
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 132.6 miles from North Peoria, IL, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.8 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant Grove, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Peoria, 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 North Peoria, IL
This is one driving day of about 265.2 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from North Peoria, 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 46.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.6 miles from North Peoria, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 247.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 East: Bloomington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 East: Bloomington
4
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 155 South: Lincoln
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
5
42.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
72.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
5
247.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m in
Take the exit toward IL 148
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 45
Toward IL 148
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.46 one way
$82.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $45.52 | $91.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $51.04 | $102.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.55 | $117.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.85 | $12.73 |
| Efficient EV | 66.3 | 0 | $23.21 | $10.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.1 | 1 | $37.13 | $16.97 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Destination
Pleasant Grove, IL
Afternoon in Pleasant Grove on Saturday
Local time
2:11 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
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
5h 17m 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 73.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
265.2 mi in 5h 17m, mostly highway — 46.8 mi of that is on Ken Gray Expressway.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.8 mi on Ken Gray Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ken Gray Expressway and I 155. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 265.2 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 42.3 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 5h 17m. Total distance: 265.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m 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 46.8 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. 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 Pleasant Grove, 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 42.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pleasant Grove, IL before the return drive.
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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