Anna, IL to Joliet, IL is 324.3 miles and takes about 6h 5m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a route that's predominantly on major highways, making for straightforward travel. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this route is well-suited for a single-day drive. You'll find the necessary services readily available along the way, simplifying your planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
162.1 miles from Anna, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
154.9 mi
2h 45m
Ken Gray Expressway
133 mi
2h 23m
US 45
10.1 mi
13m
East Vienna Street
5.8 mi
8m
Manhattan Road
5.3 mi
8m
West Joliet Road
4.4 mi
6m
West North Street
2.3 mi
3m
South State Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 154.9 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,006 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,239
Quietest
3 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anna, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on IL 146
34 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
2
Turn right onto IL 146
5.8 mi·8 min·East Vienna Street
3
Continue on IL 146
0.3 mi·27 sec·770N
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
5
Merge onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·Ken Gray Expressway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
155 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
9
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Bourbonnais Parkway
10
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi·13 min·US 45; US 52
11
Turn left onto US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·West Joliet Road
12
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·2 min·West Arsenal Road
13
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·West Joliet Road
14
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·US Route 52
15
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·3 min·South State Street
16
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi·3 min·West North Street
17
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
18
Turn left onto US 52
2.2 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
19
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·42 sec·Gardner Street
20
Turn left onto US 52
0.1 mi·15 sec·Doris Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 52; IL 53
1.2 mi·2 min·South Chicago Street
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft·12 sec·Chicago Street
23
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Washington Street
24
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft·18 sec·Joliet Street
25
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, departing in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's designed for a single day, you only need one significant stop. The longest stretch without a break is 154.9 miles on I 57, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you transition off I 57, as services might be less frequent on the remaining percentage of the trip. This route's direct nature means you have flexibility in when you stop, so don't feel rushed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 162.1 miles from Anna, IL, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 71 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.1 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joliet, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anna, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anna, IL
This is one driving day of about 324.3 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Anna, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 154.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 162.1 miles from Anna, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.9 miles.
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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 324.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
294.2 mi into trip|~5h 18m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
5
324.1 mi into trip|~6h 5m in|Joliet Street
Turn right onto Joliet Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.89 one way
$95.78 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$52.87
$105.74
premium
$4.72
$60.21
$120.43
diesel
$4.80
$61.23
$122.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
29 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Salem, IL - Tesla Supercharger
Salem, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Effingham, IL - Avenue of Mid-America - Tesla Supercharger
Effingham, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Champaign, IL - West Kirby Avenue - Tesla Supercharger
Champaign, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Marion, IL - Tesla Supercharger
Marion, IL
Tesla
8 DCFC
Mt. Vernon, IL - South 42nd Street - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.3
1
$34.05
$15.57
Efficient EV
81.1
0
$28.38
$12.97
EV Truck/SUV
129.7
1
$45.40
$20.76
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 21, 2026
Origin
Anna, IL
Morning
in Anna on Tuesday
Local time
9:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 21 at 2:48AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 21 at 2:33AM CDT until July 22 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Joliet, IL
Morning
in Joliet on Tuesday
Local time
9:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 10 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 21 at 2:48AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 21 at 2:33AM CDT until July 22 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
5 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
6h 5m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 324.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 92% of the 324.3 miles on major roads like I 57. You'll experience a long stretch of 154.9 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface roads. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter frequent exits and merges, typical of a busy interstate.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 324.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 71.9 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 139.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 324.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 71.9 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 139.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Joliet, IL before the return drive.
