Origin
Albany Park, IL
Late night in Albany Park on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
46.4 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albany Park, IL
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 46.4-mile drive from Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL takes approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes and is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with North Pulaski Road also playing a role. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $7, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest. The mixed drive profile means you won't be stuck on one type of road for too long, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B within Illinois. This trip is designed for practicality, not leisurely sightseeing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| North Pulaski Road | 10 mi | 19m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Adlai E Stevenson Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Lawrence Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 15.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany Park, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on West Lawrence Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Lawrence Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Pulaski Road
Use the left lane.
3
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Belden Avenue
4
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
6.8 mi
·
13 min
·
North Pulaski Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 55 South
6
Merge onto I 55
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
8
Continue on I 55
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 355
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Maple Road
14
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ottawa Street
15
Turn right
111 ft
·
8 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.2 miles from Albany Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 39.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Pulaski Road
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
28 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Nort...
7
28.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
7
39.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.25 one way
$14.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.96 | $15.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.93 | $17.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.24 | $20.49 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.4 mi)
$0.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Joliet, IL
Late night in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 10 to 15 mph
31% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 16 at 2:08PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive experience on this 46.4-mile route. About 38% of your journey will be on highways, offering stretches of faster travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.9 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the road character will shift between these more open highway segments and potentially more varied local road conditions, keeping the driving engaging without being overly demanding. It's a blend of efficient travel and accessible roadways.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Pulaski Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Southwest Suburbs
28 mi in
|
~44m
About the Cities
Arriving in Joliet, IL
Full guide →Founded 1833
Joliet is a city in the Chicagoland region of Illinois, a state in the Midwest of the United States of America. It is the largest city and county seat of Will County.
Top landmarks
- • Joliet Union Station — former train station in the United States
- • Christ Episcopal Church — church building in Joliet, Illinois, United States of America
- • Joliet Central High School — public school in Joliet, Illinois
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 46.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.73 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Joliet, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Joliet, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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