Origin
Danvers, IL
Late night in Danvers on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Danvers, 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
2h 5m
Distance
103.6 mi
167 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Danvers, IL
Mike Tyurin
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 103.6-mile drive from Danvers, IL to Joliet, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-55 and I-80, with a short section on East 1700 North Road, making it a highway-focused journey. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $16. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward path through the Midwest, it’s a convenient option for a quick regional excursion without the need for an overnight stay. This route offers a practical way to travel between these two Illinois locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.8 miles from Danvers, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 86.7 mi | 1h 33m |
| East 1700 North Road | 5.6 mi | 13m |
| I 80 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| I 74 | 1 mi | 1m |
| East North St | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Rivian Motorway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Jefferson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Center Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danvers, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on North West Street
303 ft
·
10 sec
·
North West Street
2
Turn right onto CR 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East North St
3
Continue on CR 18
5.6 mi
·
13 min
·
East 1700 North Road
4
Continue on CR 18
453 ft
·
14 sec
·
Yuton Road
5
Turn left onto US 150
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Rivian Motorway
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 74 East: Champaign
7
Merge onto I 74
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 74
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
9
Merge onto I 55; US 51
87 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 250A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 80
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
13
Continue on South Center Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Center Street
14
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hickory Street
15
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
16
Turn left onto Joliet Street
174 ft
·
6 sec
·
Joliet Street
17
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 2 hours, this route offers great flexibility, making it easy to depart at your convenience. Consider leaving in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach Joliet on I-80. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief fuel and stretch break midway, perhaps around the 50-mile mark, to ensure you remain comfortable. The $16 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra on hand. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you cover the longest stretch of 86.7 miles on I-55.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.8 miles from Danvers, IL, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
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 Danvers, 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 Danvers, IL
This is one driving day of about 103.6 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Danvers, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 86.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.8 miles from Danvers, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.7 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 102 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 55; US 51
Merge onto I 55; US 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
96.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
5
96.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
102 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.20 one way
$32.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.78 | $35.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.94 | $39.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.87 | $45.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.88 | $4.97 |
| Efficient EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.4 | 0 | $14.50 | $6.63 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Late night in Joliet on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Fairbury, IL
52 mi in
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 5m 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 drive for 89% of this route. The majority of your travel will be on I-55, featuring a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 86.7 miles. This means you'll experience consistent highway speeds for most of the journey. While the drive is predominantly on major interstates, there's a brief segment on local roads, offering a slight change of pace before rejoining the interstate system. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, prioritizing directness over scenic detours.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East 1700 North Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 103.6 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 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.5 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Danvers, IL
Full guide →Founded 1836
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 2h 5m. Total distance: 103.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on I 55. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.5 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.2 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.
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