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Trip from Joliet, IL to Cherry Valley, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

91 mi

146 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

26 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Illinois, United States

Joliet, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Cherry Valley, IL, IL

Cherry Valley, IL

Pham Ngoc Anh

Trip Overview

The drive from Joliet, IL to Cherry Valley, IL covers 91 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 290 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.7 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.23 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

45.5 miles from Joliet, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 45.7 mi 48m
Veterans Memorial Tollway 24.4 mi 29m
I 290 4.6 mi 5m
South State Street 4.3 mi 9m
South Archer Avenue 2.4 mi 4m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway 2 mi 2m
Collins Street 2 mi 4m
North Meacham Road 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 45.7 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Cherry Valley, IL.

1

Start on this road

111 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto US 6; IL 53

175 ft · 12 sec · Ottawa Street
3

Turn left onto US 30

0.2 mi · 26 sec · East Jefferson Street
4

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; US 30

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Jefferson Street
5

Continue on US 6; US 30

2.0 mi · 4 min · Collins Street
6

Continue on IL 171

4.3 mi · 9 min · South State Street
7

Continue on IL 171

2.4 mi · 4 min · South Archer Avenue
Use the right lane.
8

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 355 North: West Suburbs Use the left lane.
9

Merge onto I 355

24 mi · 29 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 290

4.6 mi · 5 min · I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 1B Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road Use the right lane.
12

Turn left onto IL 72

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
13

Turn right onto North Meacham Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Meacham Road
Use the left lane.
14

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford Use the left lane.
15

Merge onto I 90

46 mi · 48 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 20 Toward Irene Road
17

Turn right onto Irene Road

0.3 mi · 57 sec · Irene Road
18

Turn left onto US 20

2.0 mi · 2 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
19

Turn left onto Elgin Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Elgin Street
20

Continue on East State Street

0.3 mi · 28 sec · East State Street
21

Arrive at destination

East State Street

Trip Plan

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 45.5 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.7 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 20 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 45.5 miles or 1h 7m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherry Valley, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Joliet, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Joliet, IL

This is one driving day of about 91 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Joliet, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 45.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

village in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lombard, IL

46 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

Downers Grove, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Schaumburg, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.5 miles from Joliet, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

YURA NUNA

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Joliet, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+17792421152

Visit website

Steven's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Woodridge, Illinois

0.6 mi

Honeyfield Pancake House & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lockport, Illinois

1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Jitters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Joliet, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18157400048

Social Butterfly Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Joliet, Illinois

0.4 mi

Bonny's Bistro

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Joliet, Illinois

2.6 mi

YURA NUNA

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+17792421152

Visit website

Steven's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 19.5

Woodridge, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16308109812

Visit website

Honeyfield Pancake House & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 6.5

Lockport, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+18158363880

Visit website

Jerusalem Cafe - Restaurant and Grill - Lombard

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 26

Lombard, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+16306296400

Visit website

Public Landing

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 6.5

Lockport, Illinois

Hours: 12–8:30 pm

+18158386500

Visit website

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 26

Downers Grove, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13312159463

Visit website

The Vegan Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 6.5

Lockport, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+18158384626

Visit website

State Street Restaurant & Italian Pizza

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 6.5

Lockport, Illinois

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+18158389116

Visit website

Jitters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18157400048

Social Butterfly Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18152009829

Visit website

Shibam Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 32.5

Glendale Heights, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+12244487577

Visit website

Bonny's Bistro

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+18476271095

Visit website

Kafé De Kasa

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10

Crest Hill, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18156303694

Visit website

Belvidere Oasis

0 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.2 mi from route

Speedway

0.3 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.4 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.4 mi from route

Greater Chicago Truck Plaza

1.8 mi from route

Service Plaza

2 mi from route

Midway Village Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 91

Rockford, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18153979112

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 41.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street

Turn right onto US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 30 / East Jefferson Street

Turn left onto US 30 / East Jefferson Street

Navigation decision point

6
9.3 mi into trip | ~20m in

Turn left toward I 355 North: West Suburbs

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
8
38.8 mi into trip | ~56m in

Take the exit toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 1B Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Ro...
6
41.4 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Turn left toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.23 one way

$28.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.62 $31.24
premium $4.89 $17.51 $35.02
diesel $5.61 $20.09 $40.18

Estimated Tolls: $4.91

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (45.7 mi) $3.20
Veterans Memorial Tollway (24.4 mi) $1.71

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Tolls

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

26 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Bolingbrook, IL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Bolingbrook, IL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Inwood Park

Joliet, IL

NOODOE

12 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Joliet, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Brookhaven Plaza

Darien, IL

Blink Network

12 DCFC

Woodridge Festival Shopping Mall

Woodridge, IL

eVgo Network

10 DCFC

Thorntons, Collins St, Joliet, IL

Joliet, IL

BP_PULSE

6 DCFC

Thorntons, Independence Blvd, Romeoville, IL

Romeoville, IL

BP_PULSE

6 DCFC

NOODOE: 5 ChargePoint Network: 5 BP_PULSE: 3 Electrify America: 3 Tesla: 3 eVgo Network: 2 SHELL_RECHARGE: 2 RED_E: 1 EV Connect: 1 Blink Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.3 0 $9.56 $4.37
Efficient EV 22.8 0 $7.96 $3.64
EV Truck/SUV 36.4 0 $12.74 $5.82

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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

Joliet, IL

Morning in Joliet on Sunday

Local time

7:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cherry Valley, IL

Morning in Cherry Valley on Sunday

Local time

7:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live 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

20 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

1h 58m 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

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...

21 mi from route ~53 min detour Free near mile 9.4
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

91 mi in 1h 58m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.7 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 30 / East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting 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 1h 58m. Total distance: 91 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 45.7 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $4.91 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial 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 Cherry Valley, 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: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 30 / East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cherry Valley, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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