Origin
Peoria, IL
Evening in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Peoria, IL to Carrier Mills, IL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
5h 14m
Distance
258.6 mi
416 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 1m
★
6 AM
5h 14m
8 AM
5h 41m
10 AM
5h 24m
12 PM
5h 21m
3 PM
5h 25m
5 PM
5h 40m
8 PM
5h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Peoria, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Peoria, IL to Carrier Mills, IL covers 258.6 miles and takes about 5h 14m 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 highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.4 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.43 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
129.3 miles from Peoria, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 5h 14m highway drive covering 258.6 miles, with most of the trip on Ken Gray Expressway and I 155. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.4 miles on Ken Gray Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ken Gray Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 37.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive near Hamilton Boulevard.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 258.6 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: near the start (Hamilton Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Fayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hamilton Boulevard
Turn right onto Hamilton Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Fayette Street
Turn right onto Fayette Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 29
Take the ramp onto IL 29 toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pek...
5
40.4 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
236.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Peoria, IL and Carrier Mills, IL, road signs point toward Marion and Carbondale.
Marion
236 mi in
|
~4h 37m
Carbondale
236 mi in
|
~4h 37m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Gray Expressway | 37.4 mi | 40m |
| I 155 | 31.8 mi | 34m |
| I 55 | 30.2 mi | 32m |
| I 57 | 24.5 mi | 26m |
| IL 29 | 23.3 mi | 31m |
| West Deyoung Street | 18.2 mi | 25m |
| 300 East Road | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| United States Highway 51 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 37.4 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, IL and Carrier Mills, IL.
1
Start on Northeast Jefferson Avenue
84 ft
·
5 sec
·
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
2
Turn right onto Hamilton Boulevard
464 ft
·
16 sec
·
Hamilton Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Northeast Madison Avenue
449 ft
·
16 sec
·
Northeast Madison Avenue
4
Turn right onto Fayette Street
469 ft
·
15 sec
·
Fayette Street
5
Take the ramp onto IL 29
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
IL 29
Toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
6
Merge onto I 74; IL 29
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Murray Baker Bridge
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
8
Continue on I 155
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 155
9
Merge onto I 55
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
11
Merge onto IL 29
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 29
12
Continue on IL 29
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
IL 29
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 29
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on IL 29
16 mi
·
19 min
·
IL 29
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Webster Street
16
Turn left onto IL 29
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
West Park Street
17
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 29
18
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
N 2000 East Road
19
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
20
Turn right onto North Poplar Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Poplar Street
21
Turn straight onto US 51
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Avenue
22
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 2400 E
23
Continue on US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
300 East Road
24
Continue on US 51
11 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 875 East
25
Continue on US 51
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
26
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Gallatin Street
27
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
28
Continue on US 51
13 mi
·
15 min
·
United States Highway 51
29
Continue on US 51
10 mi
·
11 min
·
250E
30
Turn left onto US 50
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
US 50
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
32
Merge onto I 57
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 57
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
37 mi
·
40 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
35
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
37
Merge onto IL 13
18 mi
·
25 min
·
West Deyoung Street
38
Turn right onto Carrier Mills Road
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Carrier Mills Road
39
Continue on North Mill Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Mill Street
40
Turn left onto West Walnut Street
456 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Walnut Street
41
Turn right onto Main Street
244 ft
·
10 sec
·
Main Street
42
Arrive at destination
Main Street
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 129.3 miles from Peoria, IL, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.4 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.3 miles or 2h 39m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carrier Mills, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving 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 Peoria, IL
This is one driving day of about 258.6 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from 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 37.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.3 mi from Peoria, IL · 2h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.3 miles from Peoria, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carrier Mills, IL
The final approach into Carrier Mills, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Carrier Mills, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.43 one way
$80.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $44.39 | $88.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $49.77 | $99.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.10 | $114.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.6 | 0 | $27.15 | $12.41 |
| Efficient EV | 64.7 | 0 | $22.63 | $10.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.20 | $16.55 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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
Carrier Mills, IL
Evening in Carrier Mills on Tuesday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
8 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 14m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Peoria, IL to Carrier Mills, IL covers 258.6 miles and takes about 5h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ken Gray Expressway, I 155, I 55. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.3 miles from Peoria, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.43 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 258.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Hamilton Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Fayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 29): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Peoria, IL and Carrier Mills, IL, road signs point toward Marion and Carbondale.
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