Arcola to Joliet is 146 miles and takes about 2 hours 53 minutes via I 57 and US 45, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, making it a straightforward trip between two Midwest locations. You'll be spending most of your time on major highways, so expect a generally efficient journey. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct drive without too many detours, perfect for a single-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73 miles from Arcola, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
114.5 mi
2h 2m
US 45
10.1 mi
13m
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
West Arsenal Road
1.9 mi
2m
South Chicago Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 114.5 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcola, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on North Locust Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Locust Street
2
Turn left onto IL 133
0.6 mi·1 min·East Springfield Road
3
Continue on IL 133
0.3 mi·27 sec·E County Road 200 N
4
Take the ramp
467 ft·13 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
6
Merge onto I 57
114 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 57
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
8
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Bourbonnais Parkway
9
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi·13 min·US 45; US 52
10
Turn left onto US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·West Joliet Road
11
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·2 min·West Arsenal Road
12
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·West Joliet Road
13
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·US Route 52
14
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·3 min·South State Street
15
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi·3 min·West North Street
16
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
17
Turn left onto US 52
2.2 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
18
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·42 sec·Gardner Street
19
Turn left onto US 52
0.1 mi·15 sec·Doris Avenue
20
Turn right onto US 52; IL 53
1.2 mi·2 min·South Chicago Street
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft·12 sec·Chicago Street
22
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Washington Street
23
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft·18 sec·Joliet Street
24
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours, this is easily a same-day trip, giving you flexibility on when to depart. Aim to leave in the morning to take advantage of daylight and allow for any minor delays. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan for a quick break around the halfway point. Given the 146-mile distance and estimated fuel cost of $23, you won't need to worry excessively about fuel, but it's always wise to top off before heading out. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition onto Manhattan Road, as this signifies the final approach to Joliet.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73 miles from Arcola, IL, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.5 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
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 Arcola, 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 Arcola, IL
This is one driving day of about 146 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Arcola, 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 114.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 145.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|IL 133 / East Springfield Road
Turn left onto IL 133 / East Springfield Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-57 North: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward I-57 North: Champaign
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
5
116 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
5
145.9 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|Joliet Street
Turn right onto Joliet Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.83 one way
$45.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.06
$50.12
premium
$4.89
$28.10
$56.19
diesel
$5.61
$32.23
$64.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.8
0
$15.33
$7.01
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.77
$5.84
EV Truck/SUV
58.4
0
$20.44
$9.34
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Arcola, IL
Morning
in Arcola on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joliet, IL
Morning
in Joliet on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
2h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 141
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey on faster roads like I 57 and US 45. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 114.5 miles on I 57, which means consistent speed and fewer turns for a significant portion of the trip. While much of the drive is on these main arteries, the inclusion of Manhattan Road suggests a brief transition to more local thoroughfares as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent driving rhythm for most of this 146-mile route.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 45. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IL 133 / East Springfield Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IL 133 / East Springfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Arcola is a city in the Central Illinois region of Illinois with about 2,900 residents in 2020. Visitors will get a sense of small-town Midwest as they walk or drive down the streets of Arcola. The countryside surrounding the city houses the largest Amish population in Illinois with many small shops operated by Amish craftsmen in and around the area.
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
The longest stretch is about 114.5 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IL 133 / East Springfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
