How far is Peoria, IL from Cary, IL?

The driving distance from Peoria, IL to Cary, IL is about 168 miles (270.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 126.1 miles (202.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 13m 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
168.01 mi
03h 36m
Flight
126.09 mi
202.92 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
126.09 mi
Kilometers
202.92 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.01 mi
Kilometers
270.39 km
Drive Time
03h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cary
Fri, May 1, 10:29 PM CDT
Return by in Peoria
Sat, May 2, 2:06 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Peoria
2026-05-01T18:52
Arrive Cary
Fri, May 1, 10:29 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:37 AM to 11:37 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
9:46 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

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Meriden
IL

Township in LaSalle County, Illinois

From Peoria
84 mi
01h 48m
To Cary
84 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph NNW
Destination
51°F
Friday

Areas Of Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Northeast Jefferson Avenue

    26 m · 9 sec · Northeast Jefferson Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Hamilton Boulevard

    142 m · 20 sec · Hamilton Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Northeast Adams Street

    2.6 mi · 5 min · Northeast Adams Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Northeast Adams Street

    1568 ft · 41 sec · Northeast Adams Street

  5. 5

    Continue on North Galena Road

    7.1 mi · 10 min · North Galena Road

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    98 m · 4 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    45 m · 2 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on North Galena Road

    2326 ft · 36 sec · North Galena Road

  9. 9

    Continue on North State Route 29

    6.1 mi · 8 min · North State Route 29

  10. 10

    Continue on South 4th Street

    9.1 mi · 11 min · South 4th Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Railroad Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Railroad Street

  12. 12

    Continue on County Road 1400 East

    17.8 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400 East

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    8.9 mi · 10 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Joliet

    2040 ft · 44 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    17.4 mi · 19 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

    2555 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    38 mi · 41 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago

    2930 ft · 50 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    15 mi · 16 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward DeKalb, Sycamore

    1739 ft · 49 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    50 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Peace Road

    6 mi · 10 min · Peace Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto DeKalb Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · DeKalb Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Center Cross Street

    1663 ft · 42 sec · Center Cross Street

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West State Street

    2977 ft · 1 min · West State Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Plank Road

    12 mi · 19 min · Plank Road

  28. 28

    Turn left

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Higgins Road

    6.5 mi · 10 min · Higgins Road

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Randall Road

    3.5 mi · 6 min · Randall Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto North County Line Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · North County Line Road

  32. 32

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Hanson Road

    1284 ft · 31 sec · Hanson Road

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Edgewood Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · Edgewood Road

  34. 34

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    2070 ft · 51 sec · South Main Street

  35. 35

    Continue on Algonquin Bypass

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Algonquin Bypass

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Klasen Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Klasen Road

  37. 37

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Cary Algonquin Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Cary Algonquin Road

  38. 38

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  39. 39

    Continue on South Northwest Highway

    158 m · 14 sec · South Northwest Highway

  40. 40

    Turn left onto North 1st Street

    1164 ft · 52 sec · North 1st Street

  41. 41

    Turn right

    13 m · 3 sec

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
42 steps
20 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
38.4 mi · 23%
County Road 1400 East
26.7 mi · 16%
I 80 East
17.7 mi · 11%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
15 mi · 9%
Plank Road
12 mi · 7%
South 4th Street
9.1 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 39 North

Merge slight left

38 mi · 00h 41m

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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.9 mi
126.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Meriden
01h 48m from Peoria
Leave By
9:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Peoria and Areas Of Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Cary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 168 miles (270.4 km) and usually takes 03h 36m 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?

Meriden is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84 miles from Peoria and 84 miles from Cary.

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

The direct path is about 126.1 miles (202.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 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 9:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.36 one way or $44.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Peoria and Areas Of Frost then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Cary.

Stop Ideas Near Meriden

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Meriden, 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 Meriden.

RAIL

Mendota station

7 mi away
783 Main Street
RAIL

Princeton

41 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.
RAIL

Plano

42 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Dwight station

73 mi away
119 West Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Peoria and Cary. Straight-line distance: 126.09 mi (202.92 km).

Peoria

#1 Peoria

The third most populous city in Illinois.

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

#2 Cary

Village in Illinois, United States

Population17,929
Coordinates42.2119700, -88.2381400
Altitude251
CountryUnited States
Start: Peoria (-89.58899, 40.69365)
End: Cary (-88.23814, 42.21197)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 270 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.93 gal
22.44 L · about $22.36
Round trip
$44.72
11.86 gal · 44.88 L
Estimated CO2
52.7 kg one way
Round trip: 105.4 kg / 232 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.36 $44.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.22 $50.44
Premium $4.65 $27.60 $55.20
Diesel $5.30 $31.45 $62.91

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Peoria and Cary. The current time is 18:52:51.

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.