City of Pekin Home

Transportation

Roadways

Centrally located, Pekin has access to three interstates (I-74, I-474 and I-155) and seven major highways. We are a short and convenient 15-minute commute to downtown Peoria and just 30 minutes to Bloomington-Normal. Veterans Drive, a new four-lane road, provides even more convenience by connecting the east and south sides of town, and we were recently granted $30 million in state funding to continue our Veterans Drive expansion which will provide us with direct access to I-474 from the city. In addition, local mass transit is available, and Amtrak service is nearby.

Rail & Water

Seven different railroad companies use the tracks that traverse the Pekin area, with piggyback and container services just five miles from town. Using the Illinois River, barges hauling heavy grain and products to and from Pekin access the nation’s waterways throughout the year.

Airports

Air travelers make use of the Greater Peoria Regional Airport, which is only nine miles from downtown Pekin, and offers service to eight metropolitan airports around the country.  The Pekin Municipal Airport, located just four miles from Pekin, has a 5,000-foot lighted runway, charter service, private storage, and maintenance and fuel facilities. Plus, the Bloomington/Normal Central Illinois Regional Airport is only 45 minutes away, offering residents additional flights.