Connecting East Moline to Joliet, this 133.6-mile trek across the Illinois Midwest is a straightforward journey typically taking about 2 hours and 32 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-80, the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, and Colona Road. With fuel costs estimated at around $20, it is a budget-friendly trip for anyone crossing the state. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick weekend getaway, the route offers a reliable path between these two Midwestern hubs. Planning for one scheduled stop is usually sufficient to keep you refreshed throughout the journey.
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
66.8 miles from East Moline, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
122 mi
2h 12m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
3.3 mi
3m
Colona Road
2.6 mi
4m
Avenue of the Cities
2 mi
3m
Cleveland Road
1 mi
1m
7th Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Center Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 122 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Moline, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on 7th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·7th Street
2
Turn left onto Avenue of the Cities
0.4 mi·43 sec·Avenue of the Cities
3
Turn right onto 11th Street
188 ft·16 sec·11th Street
4
Turn left onto Avenue of the Cities
0.9 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Cities
5
Continue on Avenue of the Cities
0.7 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Cities
6
Continue on Colona Road
2.6 mi·4 min·Colona Road
7
Turn left onto Cleveland Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Cleveland Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
9
Merge onto I 80; IL 110
3.3 mi·3 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
122 mi·2 hr 12 min·I 80
Toward I 80 East: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 131Toward Center Street
12
Continue on South Center Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·South Center Street
13
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Hickory Street
14
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi·51 sec·West Jefferson Street
15
Turn left onto Joliet Street
174 ft·6 sec·Joliet Street
16
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To maximize your efficiency, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours near Joliet, which can add unexpected time to the final leg of your 2.5-hour drive. Since you only have one recommended stop, choose a location around the halfway point to stretch your legs and ensure your fuel levels are set for the remainder of the 133.6-mile trip. Keep in mind that since the vast majority of this route is interstate, your pace will be largely dictated by highway traffic flow. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the short duration means you can easily adjust your departure time to suit your personal schedule. Most importantly, stay alert during the long 122-mile interstate stretch to maintain consistent focus throughout the drive.
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 66.8 miles from East Moline, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.8 miles or 1h 17m 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 4m
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 East Moline, 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 East Moline, IL
This is one driving day of about 133.6 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from East Moline, 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 80 for about 122 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 133.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|11th Street
Turn right onto 11th Street
Navigation decision point
7
10 mi into trip|~16m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
5
132 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
4
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 30 / West Jefferson Street
Turn right onto US 30 / West Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|Joliet Street
Turn left onto Joliet Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.89 one way
$41.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.93
$45.87
premium
$4.89
$25.71
$51.42
diesel
$5.61
$29.50
$58.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.70
$8.55
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
East Moline, IL
Morning
in East Moline on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joliet, IL
Morning
in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Princeton, IL
67 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
2 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 32m 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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 133.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused drive as 94% of your travel takes place on major roads. The experience is defined by a significant, uninterrupted 122-mile stretch along I-80, which allows for consistent cruising speeds. While the path stays strictly within Illinois, the transition from the Quad Cities area toward the Joliet region feels like a focused interstate grind. You won't encounter many technical local roads, as the route prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. Prepare for a steady, predictable rhythm behind the wheel, making this a practical choice for those who prefer straightforward navigation.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near 11th Street.
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 32m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 122 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.1 miles (11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
