Best route from EWR to Peoria, IL?

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

I'm renting a car and going to see my parents in Peoria IL.

I'm renting the car from EWR (Newark Intl Airport). I am leaving after work on Thursday (at approximately 6:30-7). I am planning to stop and sleep at a motel.

I am returning Sunday (I'll leave Peoria early in the a.m.).

Any suggestions on best routes/scenic routes, etc.?

I'm getting different results (on line maps and parents' opinions).

[liberal N proud]

1. Shouldn't be too tough of a trip. 13 1/2 hours

Directions Distance Time
Start: Depart Start on Local road(s) (West) 0.2 0:01
1: Turn RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 0.6 0:03
2: Turn LEFT (South-West) onto Tower Rd < 0.1 0:01
3: Road name changes to Pitcairn Rd < 0.1 0:01
4: Turn LEFT (South) onto Local road(s) (Airport Exit) < 0.1 0:01
5: Merge onto Local road(s) < 0.1 < 1min
6: Merge onto Newark International Airport Exit 0.2 0:01
7: Keep LEFT onto Ramp (US-1 / US-9 / US-22 / RT-21 / Newark-Elizabeth / NY Via Skyway) 0.2 < 1min
8: Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp (US-1 / US-9 / RT-21 / US-22 / New York - Newark) 0.3 < 1min
9: Take Ramp onto US-1 (US-1-9 / RT-21 / US-22 / I-78 / Newark Downtown) 0.4 0:01
10: Keep LEFT onto Ramp (RT-21 / US-22 / Newark Downtown) 0.3 < 1min
11: Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-21 (RT-21 / Newark) 3.0 0:05
12: Turn RIGHT (East) onto Bridge St 0.1 < 1min
13: Road name changes to CR-508 0.3 < 1min
14: Turn LEFT (North) onto N 2nd St, then immediately turn LEFT (West) onto Ramp 0.2 < 1min
15: Merge onto I-280 14.1 0:14
16: Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-80 Express Ln (I-80 / Dover / Del Water Gap) 2.7 0:03
17: Road name changes to I-80 372 5:17
Entering Pennsylvania
Entering Ohio
18: Turn RIGHT onto Ramp (I-80 / Cleveland) 0.5 0:01
19: Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp (I-80 / Cleveland) 0.4 0:01
20: *Toll road* Merge onto I-80 136 2:10
21: *Toll road* Stay on I-80 217 3:02
Entering Indiana
22: At exit 21, turn RIGHT onto Ramp (I-80 / I-94 / IN-51 / US-6 W / Illinois Tollway / Des Moines) 0.6 0:01
23: Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp (I-94 / I-80 / IN-51) 0.1 < 1min
24: Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-80 (I-94 / I-80 / IN-51 S) 18.0 0:18
Entering Illinois
25: *Toll road* Keep STRAIGHT onto I-294 (I-80 / I-294 / Tollway / Wisconsin / Iowa) 5.0 0:05
26: Road Closed near Hazel Crest (April 15, 2005 - September 30, 2005) < 0.1 < 1min
27: Keep RIGHT onto I-80 (I-80 / Iowa) 29.7 0:26
28: Interchange Reconstruction near Country Club (WB) (April 11, 2005 - October 31, 2005) < 0.1 < 1min
29: At exit 126A, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-55 (I-55 / St Louis) 86.9 1:13
30: At exit 163, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-74 (I-74 / Peoria) 34.0 0:29
31: At exit 93B, turn RIGHT onto Ramp (US-24 / IL-29 / Washington St / Adams St) < 0.1 < 1min
32: Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp 0.1 < 1min
33: Turn RIGHT (West) onto NE Washington St 0.1 < 1min
34: Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto US-24 < 0.1 < 1min
End: Arrive End < 0.1 < 1min
Total Route 924 mi 13 hrs 34 mins
http://www.expedia.com

[madrchsod]

2. i used mapquest and and an illinois map...

on mapquest directions -no 9- it says to turn on 55-don`t. go straight till you reach- 180 south- which is west of lasalle-peru.180 goes from a four lane then into rt 29 south. the road follows-right next to- the illinois river to peoria. been down that road alot and it`s one of the best scenic drives down to peoria. your parents can guide you in the rest of the way into peoria. on line maps pretty much suck when it comes to really seeing the country.
oh yes have fun going on i80 thru the indiana-illinois border and worse there is no way around it....

[liberal N proud]

3. I know this is 24 hours late but there is a way around the mess

in Indiana.
From the East:
Get off on Indiana 49 and go south just east of Valparaiso
Take US 30 west until it connects up with I-80
The road is 4 lane divided highway all the way but has a lot of stop lights.
I have been stuck in Gary Indiana for 3-4 hours and this will at the very least keep you on time.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

4. Thanks for the tips...

So far, my plan is to take I-78, then I-76, then I-70. I am leaving in about 6 hours. I am actually excited, since I'll be seeing places I never saw before and I just like driving :)