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Trip from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 24m

Distance

150.8 mi

243 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 14m ★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 18m

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

Downtown University Park, IL, IL

University Park, IL

Quang Vuong

Downtown Peoria, IL, IL

Peoria, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL covers 150.8 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on California Avenue, 167th Street, Kedzie Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.58 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

75.4 miles from University Park, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 150.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 24m drive with frequent turns across 150.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
California Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL is easy. At 2h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
California Avenue
167th Street
Kedzie Avenue
I 80 West
I 55 South
I 74 West
IL 29 North
Spalding Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: California Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Lancaster Drive

131 ft · 8 sec · Lancaster Drive
2

Turn right onto California Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · California Avenue
3

Turn right onto 167th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · 167th Street
4

Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue

295 ft · 8 sec · Kedzie Avenue
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 80 West
6

Merge slight left

28 mi · 34 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

0.4 mi · 54 sec · I 55 South: Saint Louis
8

Merge slight left

87 mi · 1 hr 33 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West: Peoria

0.5 mi · 49 sec · I 74 West: Peoria
10

Continue straight

27 mi · 29 min
11

Keep slight right to continue on I 74 West: Peoria

6.0 mi · 7 min · I 74 West: Peoria
12

Take the exit slight right toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria

0.2 mi · 23 sec · IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
13

Continue on Spalding Avenue

453 ft · 20 sec · Spalding Avenue
14

Turn left onto Northeast Jefferson Avenue

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue
15

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 75.4 miles from University Park, IL, or about 1h 12m into the drive.

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 33 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 75.4 miles or 1h 12m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 58m

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 University Park, 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 University Park, IL

This is one driving day of about 150.8 miles and 2h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from University Park, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.4 mi from University Park, IL · 1h 12m into the drive

city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fairbury, IL

75 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fairbury, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.4 miles from University Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.58 one way

$47.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.89 $51.77
premium $4.89 $29.02 $58.04
diesel $5.61 $33.29 $66.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.2 0 $15.83 $7.24
Efficient EV 37.7 0 $13.20 $6.03
EV Truck/SUV 60.3 0 $21.11 $9.65

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 16, 2026

Origin

University Park, IL

Morning in University Park on Thursday

Local time

11:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Peoria, IL

Morning in Peoria on Thursday

Local time

11:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Fairbury, IL

75 mi in

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

15 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

2h 24m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL covers 150.8 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are California Avenue, 167th Street, Kedzie Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.4 miles from University Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.58 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL is easy. At 2h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from University Park, IL to Peoria, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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