Skip to main content

Trip from Blue Island, IL to Joliet, IL

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

40m

Distance

27.8 mi

45 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 37m ★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Blue Island, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Illinois, United States

Joliet, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 27.8-mile drive from Blue Island, IL, to Joliet, IL, can be completed in about 40 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Expect a fuel cost of around $4 for this journey, which primarily utilizes major highways like I-80 and I-57. Given its short distance and highway-focused profile, this route is best suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region of Illinois for the entire trip. The minimal stops and quick transit time mean you can easily fit this into a busy schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 18 mi 21m
I 57 3.7 mi 5m
Western Avenue 2.4 mi 4m
South Chicago Street 0.5 mi 1m
4th Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
West 147th Street 0.4 mi <1m
Richards Street 0.2 mi <1m
West Washington Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 18 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blue Island, IL and Joliet, IL.

1

Start on Western Avenue

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Western Avenue
2

Continue on Western Avenue

2.2 mi · 4 min · Western Avenue
3

Turn right onto IL 83

0.4 mi · 45 sec · West 147th Street
4

Turn left

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 57 South
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, Memphis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
7

Merge onto I 57

3.7 mi · 5 min · I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Exit 345B Toward I 80 West: Iowa Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 80

18 mi · 21 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Exit 133 Toward Richards Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

265 ft · 6 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto Richards Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Richards Street
13

Turn left onto 4th Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · 4th Avenue
14

Turn sharp right onto US 6; IL 53

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Chicago Street
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53

272 ft · 12 sec · Chicago Street
16

Turn left onto West Washington Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · West Washington Street
17

Turn right onto Joliet Street

520 ft · 18 sec · Joliet Street
18

Turn right

272 ft · 19 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 26.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
3.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, M...
5
3.5 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 57 South: Memphis
7
7.8 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 345B Toward I 80 West: Iowa
7
26.2 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward Richards Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 133 Toward Richards Street
7
26.4 mi into trip | ~36m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.35 one way

$8.69 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.77 $9.54
premium $4.89 $5.35 $10.70
diesel $5.61 $6.14 $12.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.3 0 $2.92 $1.33
Efficient EV 7 0 $2.43 $1.11
EV Truck/SUV 11.1 0 $3.89 $1.78

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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

Blue Island, IL

Morning in Blue Island on Tuesday

Local time

6:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Joliet, IL

Morning in Joliet on Tuesday

Local time

6:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

40m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the route being interstate. You'll experience an 18-mile stretch on I-80, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. The road character is primarily that of a functional, high-speed corridor connecting two Illinois communities. While there are segments on Western Avenue, the overall feel is geared towards efficient travel rather than leisurely cruising, with a focus on getting you to your destination promptly.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 57. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 27.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Blue Island, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.

Memphis

3.1 mi in | ~6m

About the Cities

Starting in Blue Island, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1836

Blue Island is in Chicagoland, located on South Western Avenue between 119th St and 135th Street.

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 40m. Total distance: 27.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Blue Island, IL or browse trips ending in Joliet, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.