Johnston City to Joliet is 290.6 miles and takes about 5h 29m via I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. The relatively short duration and clear route mean you can focus on getting to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.3 miles from Johnston City, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
154.9 mi
2h 45m
Ken Gray Expressway
104.1 mi
1h 52m
US 45
10.1 mi
13m
Manhattan Road
5.3 mi
8m
West Joliet Road
4.4 mi
6m
West North Street
2.3 mi
3m
South State Street
1.9 mi
3m
West Arsenal Road
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 154.9 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,461
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnston City, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto East 9th Street
49 ft·4 sec·East 9th Street
3
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·Washington Avenue
4
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
1.0 mi·1 min·East Broadway Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
6
Merge onto I 57
37 mi·39 min·Ken Gray Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
155 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
10
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Bourbonnais Parkway
11
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi·13 min·US 45; US 52
12
Turn left onto US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·West Joliet Road
13
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·2 min·West Arsenal Road
14
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·West Joliet Road
15
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·US Route 52
16
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·3 min·South State Street
17
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi·3 min·West North Street
18
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
19
Turn left onto US 52
2.2 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
20
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·42 sec·Gardner Street
21
Turn left onto US 52
0.1 mi·15 sec·Doris Avenue
22
Turn right onto US 52; IL 53
1.2 mi·2 min·South Chicago Street
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft·12 sec·Chicago Street
24
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Washington Street
25
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft·18 sec·Joliet Street
26
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to pull over as needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you get further north; the $46 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if necessary, but aim to get on I 57 early to avoid potential midday traffic.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.3 miles from Johnston City, IL, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.9 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 64 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.3 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
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 Johnston City, 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 Johnston City, IL
This is one driving day of about 290.6 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Johnston City, 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 57 for about 154.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 290.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 9th Street
Turn left onto East 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
38.2 mi into trip|~43m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
105.6 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
260.5 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
5
290.4 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|Joliet Street
Turn right onto Joliet Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.65 one way
$107.29 round trip
$4.69/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.33
$60.93
$121.87
premium
$5.87
$67.17
$134.34
diesel
$6.57
$75.16
$150.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.2
1
$30.51
$13.95
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.43
$11.62
EV Truck/SUV
116.2
1
$40.68
$18.60
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Johnston City, IL
Afternoon
in Johnston City on Sunday
Local time
3:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Areas Of Frost
ESE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Joliet, IL
Afternoon
in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
3:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Patchy Frost
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 29m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 290.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 93% highway, so you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 154.9 miles on I 57. You'll notice a high density of exits for a good portion of the drive as you travel north. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 9th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 290.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (East 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 105.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 290.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 105.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Joliet, IL before the return drive.
