How far is Peoria, IL from Alton, IL?

The driving distance from Peoria, IL to Alton, IL is about 157.4 miles (253.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 128.5 miles (206.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
157.39 mi
03h 03m
Flight
128.52 mi
206.84 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Peoria.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
128.52 mi
Kilometers
206.84 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
157.39 mi
Kilometers
253.3 km
Drive Time
03h 03m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alton
Sat, Apr 18, 9:58 AM CDT
Return by in Peoria
Sat, Apr 18, 1:01 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Peoria
2026-04-18T06:55
Arrive Alton
Sat, Apr 18, 9:58 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:03 AM to 11:03 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Peoria
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Cotton Hill
IL

Township in Sangamon County, Illinois

From Peoria
78.7 mi
01h 31m
To Alton
78.7 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
67°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Peoria and Alton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Peoria and Alton.

  1. 1

    Start on Northeast Jefferson Avenue

    26 m · 6 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Hamilton Boulevard

    141 m · 17 sec · Hamilton Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Northeast Madison Avenue

    137 m · 16 sec · Northeast Madison Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Fayette Street

    143 m · 15 sec · Fayette Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin

    1039 ft · 25 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Murray Baker Bridge

    7.3 mi · 9 min · Murray Baker Bridge

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 155 South: Lincoln

    1.2 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    31.8 mi · 34 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    34 mi · 37 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    62.6 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville

    1756 ft · 43 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto East State Street

    1 km · 1 min · East State Street

  13. 13

    Continue on State Route 140

    9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140

  14. 14

    Continue on East Bethalto Drive

    1.8 mi · 4 min · East Bethalto Drive

  15. 15

    Continue on East MacArthur Drive

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East MacArthur Drive

  16. 16

    Continue on West Macarthur Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on College Avenue

    3.6 mi · 6 min · College Avenue

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward College Avenue

    121 m · 8 sec · College Avenue

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto College Avenue

    1355 ft · 27 sec · College Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Martin Luther King Drive

    1.5 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive

  21. 21

    Continue on Piasa Street

    1877 ft · 37 sec · Piasa Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West 3rd Street

    662 ft · 31 sec · West 3rd Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Alby Street

    36 m · 5 sec · Alby Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Alby Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Peoria and Alton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 155 South
66.6 mi · 42%
I 55 South
62.6 mi · 40%
State Route 140
9.61 mi · 6%
Murray Baker Bridge
7.34 mi · 5%
College Avenue
3.91 mi · 2%
East Bethalto Drive
1.75 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 South

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

62.6 mi · 01h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.9 mi
128.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cotton Hill
01h 31m from Peoria
Leave By
10:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Peoria and Showers And Thunderstorms near Alton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Peoria to Alton?

The road trip is about 157.4 miles (253.3 km) and usually takes 03h 03m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cotton Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78.7 miles from Peoria and 78.7 miles from Alton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 128.5 miles (206.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.93 one way or $41.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Peoria and Showers And Thunderstorms near Alton.

Stop Ideas Near Cotton Hill

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cotton Hill, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cotton Hill.

RAIL

Springfield station

12 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Carlinville

51 mi away
128 Alton Rd.
RAIL

Lincoln

55 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Alton

98 mi away
3400 College Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Peoria and Alton. Straight-line distance: 128.52 mi (206.84 km).

Peoria

#1 Peoria

The third most populous city in Illinois.

Population109,428
Coordinates40.6936500, -89.5889900
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Alton

#2 Alton

City in Madison County, Illinois, United States

Population26,049
Coordinates38.8906000, -90.1842800
Altitude150
CountryUnited States
Start: Peoria (-89.58899, 40.69365)
End: Alton (-90.18428, 38.8906)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 253 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.55 gal
21.02 L · about $20.93
Round trip
$41.86
11.1 gal · 42.04 L
Estimated CO2
49.3 kg one way
Round trip: 98.6 kg / 217 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.93 $41.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.60 $47.21
Premium $4.65 $25.83 $51.66
Diesel $5.30 $29.44 $58.87

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Peoria and Alton. The current time is 06:55:03.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.