There’s so much happening in Greater Peoria, you don’t need to leave to experience the things you love: fine dining, outdoor adventures, professional sports, music, theater, the arts and more. And with easy commutes and great public transportation, you can get practically anywhere in just minutes.
Still, the travel bug is bound to strike eventually. Maybe your job requires business trips or your family and close friends live hundreds of miles away. Good news: Greater Peoria is a transportation hub — centrally located and with resources that allow you to travel across the nation and around the world with ease
Take To The Sky
Air travel doesn’t get much more convenient than a flight from the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. Parking is free, and the average time from parking lot to gate is just eight minutes — including your trip through security! Thirteen nonstop flights take you to vacation destinations like Las Vegas, Nashville, Denver and Orlando, along with major hubs like Chicago, Dallas and Charlotte, where you can connect around the world.
Hit The Road
Maybe you’d rather grab a suitcase, throw some snacks in the car and see where the road takes you! Six interstate highway systems link Greater Peoria to the rest of the nation in every direction. It’s a 2.5-hour drive to Chicago or St. Louis, and just three hours to Indianapolis — perfect for a long weekend or even a day trip.
If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, check out Peoria Charter Travel. You can ride aboard a comfortable motor coach for holiday shopping, sporting events, theater dates and more. Peoria Charter also offers daily shuttle service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Ride The Rails
Here’s another way to avoid the drive — hop aboard an Amtrak train. Stations are close by in Bloomington-Normal, Galesburg and Lincoln. You can head north through Chicago and Milwaukee all the way to the Pacific Northwest. Go south to the Big Easy, or travel to either coast. This map shows all the possibilities!
Set Your Sails
A tributary of the Mississippi, the Illinois River winds more than 250 miles across the state. It’s a major commercial waterway, with more than 26 million tons of cargo passing through local locks each year, making its way from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. But you can enjoy pleasure travel on the water, too.
From Greater Peoria, sail north to explore beautiful Starved Rock State Park, or south for wildlife viewing at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge or Dixon Waterfowl Refuge. You can also connect to other waterways for an even longer cruise. You’ll find plenty of boat slips and marinas where you can make your home base, including Peoria’s historic Illinois Valley Yacht Club.