Chicago to Peoria IL road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Peoria IL drive are Old Joliet Prison, Pontiac and Bloomington IL. The distance from Chicago to Peoria IL by car is 166 miles, with a 2h30m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Peoria IL road trip itinerary
The drive from Chicago to Peoria IL connects the biggest city in Illinois to a city on the Illinois River.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Chicago’s skyscrapers, music scene and massive collection of cultural attractions make it arguably the most exciting city in the US to visit.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Peoria’s top attraction is the Peoria Riverfront Museum. It has a strong art collection, a sculpture garden and a planetarium. Other options include the Peoria Zoo and the Caterpillar Visitor Center. The latter the offers the opportunity to get up close to enormous mining equipment, learn the history of the Caterpillar company and have a go at operating the big beasts on simulators.
Chicago to Peoria IL distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Peoria IL is 166 miles, with a 2h30m driving time. The quickest route is down the I-55 and I-74.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Peoria IL road trip itinerary are Old Joliet Prison, Pontiac and Bloomington IL.
Chicago to Peoria IL road trip stops: Old Joliet Prison
The Old Joliet Prison has enjoyed plenty of big screen fame. It features in both the Blues Brothers and Prison Break. Prisoners were housed here from 1858 to 2002, but now it’s open to tourists.
You can take a self-guided tour, or sign up for the guided ghost tours. The best bets, however, are the general history tours. These 90 minute guided walks around the prison are full of stories about the building and inmates.
Attractions between Chicago and Peoria IL: Pontiac
Those with a thing for American cars will probably fancy a peek at the Pontiac-Oakland Museum, but lovers of road trips will gravitate towards the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum.
This museum is a much-loved collection of Route 66 memorabilia, with buses, vans, signs and all matter of little oddities that will help road-trippers stock up on ideas for next time.
Chicago to Peoria IL drive: Bloomington IL
Bloomington IL has a handful of decent attractions. The biggest crowd pleaser, especially with kids in tow, is the Miller Park Zoo.
Adults might prefer the McLean County Museum of History, which looks at the time Abraham Lincoln spent as an attorney in Bloomington. The Prairie Aviation Museum, meanwhile, caters to plane geeks.
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