Origin
Glenwood, IL
Night in Glenwood on Sunday
Local time
10:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glenwood, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
30 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glenwood, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 30-mile drive from Glenwood, IL, to Joliet, IL, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 45 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-80 and the Tri-State Tollway, this route is a great option for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a projected fuel cost of around $5, it's an economical choice for a quick journey within the Midwest region. The drive is mostly highway-focused, making it a practical and efficient way to get between these two Illinois locations. You'll find this route to be a no-fuss option for local travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 22.5 mi | 27m |
| Halsted Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 187th Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| South Chicago Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Glenwood Chicago Heights Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 22.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glenwood, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on Glenwood Lansing Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Glenwood Lansing Road
2
Continue on East Main Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
3
Continue on Glenwood Chicago Heights Road
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Glenwood Chicago Heights Road
4
Turn slight right
170 ft
·
7 sec
5
Turn straight onto 187th Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
187th Street
6
Turn right onto IL 1
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Halsted Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollway, Iowa, Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
9
Merge onto I 80; I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward Richards Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
265 ft
·
6 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Richards Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Richards Street
14
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
15
Turn sharp right onto US 6; IL 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Chicago Street
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Chicago Street
17
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Washington Street
18
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft
·
18 sec
·
Joliet Street
19
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15 miles from Glenwood, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 28.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollway, Iowa, Wisconsin
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollwa...
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
28.4 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
28.5 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
$4.69 one way
$9.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.15 | $10.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.77 | $11.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.62 | $13.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Tri-state Tollway
(1.2 mi)
$0.07
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
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (60% 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
Night in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
10:13 PM
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
45m 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 about 75% of this 30-mile journey. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-80, which includes a continuous stretch of 22.5 miles. The route also incorporates segments of Halsted Street and the Tri-State Tollway, contributing to the overall efficiency. While the majority of the drive is on higher-speed roads, be prepared for potential transitions as you approach your destination in Joliet. This isn't a winding, scenic route, but rather a direct path designed for getting you there quickly.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Halsted Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 30 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Glenwood, IL and Joliet, IL, road signs point toward Iowa and Wisconsin.
Iowa
3.9 mi in
|
~9m
Wisconsin
3.9 mi in
|
~9m
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 45m. Total distance: 30 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). 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 $0.07 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 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 Glenwood, IL or browse trips ending in Joliet, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.