Joliet, IL to Prairie Grove, IL is 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 39m via Veterans Memorial Tollway and IL 53, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on surface roads, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. You'll find it's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.1 miles from Joliet, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Tollway
24.4 mi
29m
North Rand Road
10.2 mi
13m
IL 53
8.9 mi
11m
I 290
5.6 mi
6m
South State Street
4.3 mi
9m
East State Road
4.1 mi
7m
South Archer Avenue
2.4 mi
4m
Collins Street
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 24.4 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Prairie Grove, 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 SuburbsUse 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
5.6 mi·6 min·I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
8.9 mi·11 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Lake Cook Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Cook Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 12
10 mi·13 min·North Rand Road
Use the right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward IL 176Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto IL 176
0.5 mi·1 min·West Liberty Street
16
Continue on IL 176
4.1 mi·7 min·East State Road
17
Turn right onto Nish Road
1.8 mi·4 min·Nish Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto Barreville Road
0.2 mi·40 sec·Barreville Road
19
Arrive at destination
Barreville Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 39 minutes, this trip is easily doable in a single day. Aim to depart when traffic is lightest, likely mid-morning or early afternoon, to make the most of the surface road sections. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider this a flexible drive where you can pull over as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $10 for the 66.3 miles, and plan for a fuel stop if you're running low before you leave Joliet.
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 33.1 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.4 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.1 miles or 49m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prairie Grove, 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 66.3 miles and 1h 39m.
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 Veterans Memorial Tollway for about 24.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 59.5 — 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
6
39.7 mi into trip|~58m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward IL 176
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward IL 176
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.37 one way
$20.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.38
$22.76
premium
$4.89
$12.76
$25.52
diesel
$5.61
$14.64
$29.28
Estimated Tolls: $1.71
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
$10
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.80
$2.65
EV Truck/SUV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Night
in Joliet on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Prairie Grove, IL
Night
in Prairie Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
1 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 39m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 9.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 22% of the route on highways. You'll experience a 24.4-mile stretch on the Veterans Memorial Tollway before transitioning to surface streets. Expect to navigate more exits and local traffic once you leave the tollway. The majority of your time will be spent on roads with lower speed limits.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.4 mi on Veterans Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.3 miles you will encounter 12 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.
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 1h 39m. Total distance: 66.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.71 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans 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 Prairie Grove, 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 Prairie Grove, IL before heading back.
