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Trip from Pleasant Grove, IL to Peoria, IL

Drive Time

5h 10m

Distance

262.6 mi

423 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 57m ★
6 AM
5h 11m
8 AM
5h 38m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 3m

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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Downtown Peoria, IL, IL

Peoria, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pleasant Grove, IL to Peoria, IL covers 262.6 miles and takes about 5h 10m 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 70.9 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.89 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

131.3 miles from Pleasant Grove, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 10m highway drive covering 262.6 miles, with most of the trip on Ken Gray Expressway and I 155. The longest continuous stretch is about 70.9 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 41 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 70.9 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 around 68.2 miles in near I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 262.6 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: at 68.2 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 88.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.4 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
68.2 mi into trip | ~1h 20m 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
88.6 mi into trip | ~1h 42m 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
152.4 mi into trip | ~2h 58m in | IL 29 / West Washington Street

Turn left onto IL 29 / West Washington Street

Navigation decision point

5
191.8 mi into trip | ~3h 51m 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
222.3 mi into trip | ~4h 25m 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

Towns Along This Route

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

Sandoval

88.6 mi in | ~1h 42m

Hartsburg

222.3 mi in | ~4h 25m | via I 155

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ken Gray Expressway 70.9 mi 1h 16m
I 155 32 mi 34m
I 55 30 mi 32m
West Springfield Road 15.7 mi 18m
South Superior Street 15.1 mi 17m
IL 37 13.6 mi 19m
300E 13.5 mi 15m
County Road 875 East 11.1 mi 12m
Longest stretch: Ken Gray Expressway — 70.9 mi, about 1h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Pleasant Grove Road

383 ft · 18 sec · Pleasant Grove Road
2

Turn left onto IL 146

3.3 mi · 4 min · West Vine Street
3

Turn left onto IL 37

14 mi · 19 min · IL 37
4

Turn straight onto IL 148

0.4 mi · 41 sec · IL 148
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
6

Merge onto I 57

50 mi · 54 min · Ken Gray Expressway
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

20 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
9

Merge onto US 50

2.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
10

Continue on US 50

2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street
11

Continue on US 50

2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar
12

Turn right onto US 51

10 mi · 11 min · 150E
13

Continue on US 51

13 mi · 15 min · 300E
14

Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185

0.5 mi · 35 sec · US 40; US 51; IL 185
15

Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185

1.6 mi · 1 min · North Kennedy Boulevard
16

Continue on US 51

11 mi · 12 min · County Road 875 East
17

Continue on US 51

15 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street
18

Continue on US 51

2.0 mi · 2 min · County Road 2400 East
19

Continue on US 51

0.6 mi · 2 min · Fair Avenue
20

Continue on US 51

0.3 mi · 29 sec · South Poplar Street
21

Turn left onto IL 16

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 2nd Street
22

Turn right onto South State Street

0.2 mi · 52 sec · South State Street
23

Turn left onto IL 29

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Washington Street
24

Continue on IL 29

5.4 mi · 7 min · N 2000 East Road
25

Continue on IL 29

5.1 mi · 7 min · State Route 29
26

Continue on East Park Street

5.3 mi · 7 min · East Park Street
27

Turn right onto IL 29

0.4 mi · 32 sec · North Webster Street
28

Continue on IL 29

16 mi · 18 min · West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
29

Continue on IL 29

1.3 mi · 1 min · IL 29
Use the straight lane.
30

Continue on IL 29

5.4 mi · 7 min · IL 29
Use the straight lane.
31

Continue on IL 29

0.5 mi · 41 sec · IL 29
Use the straight lane.
32

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 55 North, I 72 East
33

Merge onto I 55; I 72; US 36

30 mi · 32 min · I 55; I 72; US 36
34

Keep slight left at fork onto I 155

32 mi · 34 min · I 155
Exit 127 Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
35

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
36

Merge onto I 74

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 74
37

Keep slight right at fork onto I 74

6.0 mi · 7 min · I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
38

Take the exit onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 23 sec · IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
39

Continue on Spalding Avenue

452 ft · 20 sec · Spalding Avenue
40

Turn left onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue
41

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 131.3 miles from Pleasant Grove, IL, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.9 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 131.3 miles or 2h 31m 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 17m

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 Pleasant Grove, 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 Pleasant Grove, IL

This is one driving day of about 262.6 miles and 5h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pleasant Grove, 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 70.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 131.3 mi from Pleasant Grove, IL · 2h 31m into the drive

Downtown Decatur, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

131 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

Frankfort, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Decatur, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 131.3 miles from Pleasant Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Ken Gray Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.9 miles.

Arriving in Peoria, IL

The final approach into Peoria, 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 Peoria, IL.

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

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 190.1
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.89 one way

$79.77 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 92 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $43.97 $87.94
premium $4.80 $49.57 $99.15
diesel $5.64 $58.34 $116.68

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: 91.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 78.8 0 $27.57 $12.60
Efficient EV 65.7 0 $22.98 $10.50
EV Truck/SUV 105 1 $36.76 $16.81

Gas CO2

92 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Pleasant Grove, IL

Afternoon in Pleasant Grove on Monday

Local time

12:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Peoria, IL

Afternoon in Peoria on Monday

Local time

12:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

24 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

5h 10m 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 Pleasant Grove, IL to Peoria, IL covers 262.6 miles and takes about 5h 10m 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 131.3 miles from Pleasant Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.89 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 20 significant decision points across 262.6 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: at 68.2 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 88.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.4 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
Between Pleasant Grove, IL and Peoria, IL, road signs point toward Sandoval and Hartsburg.

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