Origin
Burnham, IL
Morning in Burnham on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burnham, IL to Joliet, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burnham, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 34.6-mile drive from Burnham, IL, to Joliet, IL, will take you about 49 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 65% of the journey on major roads like I-80 and the Tri-State Tollway. You can expect to spend around $5 on fuel for this short hop across the Midwest. Given its brevity, you won't need to break this trip up with an overnight stay; instead, you can enjoy the flexibility of a quick journey. This drive keeps you within Illinois, connecting two points in the same state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 22.5 mi | 27m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| South Torrence Avenue | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| South Chicago Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Saginaw Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Richards Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 22.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnham, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on South Marquette Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Marquette Avenue
2
Turn right onto East 142nd Street
335 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 142nd Street
3
Turn right onto South Saginaw Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Saginaw Avenue
4
Turn left onto 140th Street
339 ft
·
22 sec
·
140th Street
5
Turn left onto South Torrence Avenue
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
South Torrence Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North, I 94 West
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 80; I 294
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
22 mi
·
27 min
·
I 80
Exit 5
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
Use the slight right lane.
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Burnham, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 33.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Torrence Avenue
Turn left onto South Torrence Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
5.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West, I 294 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Iowa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
7
33 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
33.2 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
$5.41 one way
$10.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.66 | $13.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.29
Tri-state Tollway
(4.8 mi)
$0.29
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Joliet, IL
Morning in Joliet on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 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
4 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
49m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 34.6-mile trip, with 65% of the drive on major roads including I-80 and the Tri-State Tollway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.5 miles on I-80, offering a consistent pace. While much of the drive will be on these high-speed corridors, you'll also navigate segments on South Torrence Avenue, which may offer a slight change in scenery and speed. The overall character is one of efficient travel rather than winding backroads.
65% 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: 22.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near South Torrence Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 decision points packed into just 34.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (South Torrence Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 49m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.29 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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 0.5 miles (South Torrence Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Joliet, IL
More trips to Joliet, IL
Explore more options from Burnham, IL or browse trips ending in Joliet, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.