Origin
Joliet, IL
Evening in Joliet on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joliet, IL to Gurnee, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
67.8 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Gurnee, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Joliet, IL to Gurnee, IL covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Independence Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.8 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.51 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
33.9 miles from Joliet, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 41.8 mi | 50m |
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| Independence Boulevard | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Broadway Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Joliet Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South O'Plaine Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Chicago Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| North O'Plaine Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 41.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Gurnee, 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
391 ft
·
18 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
4
Turn left onto North Chicago Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Chicago Street
5
Continue on IL 53
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Ruby Street
6
Turn right onto IL 53
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Broadway Street
7
Continue on IL 53
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Independence Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on Joliet Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Joliet Road
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
108 ft
·
2 sec
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 55 North: Suburbs, Chicago
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 55
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
3 min
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
14
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
37 mi
·
45 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto IL 120
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Belvidere Road
18
Turn left onto South O'Plaine Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South O'Plaine Road
19
Continue on North O'Plaine Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North O'Plaine Road
20
Turn right onto IL 132
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
21
Turn right onto North Greenleaf Street
92 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Greenleaf Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Greenleaf 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 33.9 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.8 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 15 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 53m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gurnee, 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 67.8 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Joliet, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 41.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 64.9 — 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
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
6
27.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward IL 120 East: Belvidere Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.51 one way
$21.02 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.15 | $26.31 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $14.95 | $29.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.51
Tri-state Tollway
(41.8 mi)
$2.51
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
$11
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Gurnee, IL
Evening in Gurnee on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Elmhurst, IL
34 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
1h 37m 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?
67.8 mi in 1h 37m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.8 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.8 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 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
730 ft
541 ft
Total Climb
311 ft
Total Descent
175 ft
Highest Point
730 ft
~14.5 mi in
Elevation Range
190 ft
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.
On the drive from Joliet, IL to Gurnee, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
12.9 mi in
|
~25m
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
Arriving in Gurnee, IL
Full guide →Founded 1928
Gurnee is a village in Illinois. It sits at the midpoint between Chicago and Milwaukee. It's best known as the home of the Six Flags Great America amusement park, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago water park, the Gurnee Mills shopping mall, and a Great Wolf Lodge location. As such, Gurnee sees over 23 million visitors every year.
Top landmarks
- • Goliath (Six Flags Great America) — wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois
- • The Flash: Vertical Velocity — amusement ride in Six Flags Great America
- • Shockwave — roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, 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 37m. Total distance: 67.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.8 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.51 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 Gurnee, 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 21.2 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 Gurnee, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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