Trip from Joliet, IL to Shields, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 14m

Distance

243.6 mi

392 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 1m ★

6 AM

5h 14m

8 AM

5h 41m

10 AM

5h 24m

12 PM

5h 21m

3 PM

5h 25m

5 PM

5h 40m

8 PM

5h 6m

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

Best Time

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Joliet, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Shields, IL

Fernando Cortés

Trip Overview

Joliet to Shields is 243.6 miles and takes about 5h 14m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration and a primarily highway profile, it's well-suited for a quick transit. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect efficient travel. Consider this route if you need a direct path between these two points without extensive detours.

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

121.8 miles from Joliet, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	155.6 mi	2h 46m
County Road 925 East	16.2 mi	24m
South Banker Street	14.9 mi	22m
South La Grange Road	10.1 mi	13m
US 50	7.5 mi	8m
Manhattan Road	5.3 mi	8m
County Highway 13	4.9 mi	11m
County Road 250E	4.8 mi	11m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 155.6 mi, about 2h 46m

Traffic on I-57

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~783 veh/hr typical

Quietest

3 AM

~77 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

10.2×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 5 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 Joliet, IL and Shields, IL.

Start on this road

111 ft · 10 sec · this road

Turn right onto US 6; IL 53

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Ottawa Street

Continue on US 6; IL 53

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Ottawa Street

Continue on US 6; IL 53

1.0 mi · 2 min · Chicago Street

Turn left onto US 52

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Doris Avenue

Turn right onto US 52

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Gardner Street

Continue on US 52

2.2 mi · 3 min · Manhattan Road

Continue on US 52

3.1 mi · 4 min · Manhattan Road

Continue on US 52

2.3 mi · 3 min · West North Street

Continue on US 52

1.9 mi · 3 min · South State Street

Continue on US 52

1.2 mi · 1 min · US Route 52

Continue on US 52

3.1 mi · 4 min · South Cedar Road

Continue on US 52

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Arsenal Road

Continue on US 52

1.3 mi · 1 min · West Joliet Road

Turn right onto US 45; US 52

10 mi · 13 min · South La Grange Road

Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Bourbonnais Parkway

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Toward I-57 South: Kankakee

Merge onto I 57

156 mi · 2 hr 46 min · I 57

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 162 Toward US 45: Sigel, Effingham

Turn left onto US 45

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 45

Turn right onto US 40; US 45; IL 33

0.2 mi · 32 sec · East Fayette Avenue

Turn left onto US 45

15 mi · 22 min · South Banker Street

Continue on US 45

16 mi · 24 min · County Road 925 East

Turn slight right

128 ft · 4 sec

Merge onto US 50

7.5 mi · 8 min · US 50

Turn left onto Xenia Iola Road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Xenia Iola Road

Continue on Church Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Church Street

Continue on Front Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Front Street

Turn left onto South Main Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · South Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street

191 ft · 5 sec · South Main Street

Continue on Fairfield Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Fairfield Street

Continue on Fairfield Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · Fairfield Road

Continue on County Highway 13

0.2 mi · 35 sec · County Highway 13

Continue on County Road 300E

0.7 mi · 1 min · County Road 300E

Keep slight right at fork onto County Highway 13

1.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway 13

Continue on County Road 250E

4.8 mi · 11 min · County Road 250E

Continue on County Highway 13

3.2 mi · 7 min · County Highway 13

Turn right onto County Road 1420N

0.9 mi · 2 min · County Road 1420N

Continue on County Road 1430N

0.2 mi · 30 sec · County Road 1430N

Continue on County Highway 15

0.3 mi · 49 sec · County Highway 15

Continue on County Road 1450N

0.8 mi · 1 min · County Road 1450N

Continue on County Highway 15

0.5 mi · 1 min · County Highway 15

Continue on East Depeche Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Depeche Road

Turn slight right onto 2350 North

0.1 mi · 30 sec · 2350 North

Turn left onto North Papertown Lane

47 ft · 2 sec · North Papertown Lane

Arrive at destination

North Papertown Lane

Trip Plan

Given the 5h 14m duration, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Shields before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can make good time, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 155.6 miles on I 57 – plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. The fuel cost is estimated at $43, so ensure you have enough to cover this. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, the transition from highway to county roads near the end means paying closer attention to navigation as you approach Shields.

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 121.8 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.6 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 54 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 121.8 miles or 2h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shields, 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.

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 Joliet, IL

This is one driving day of about 243.6 miles and 5h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Joliet, 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 155.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Atwood, IL

122 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

Shelby, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 121.8 miles from Joliet, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.2 mi from 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 and 243.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Turn right onto US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street

Navigation decision point

185.3 mi into trip | ~3h 33m in

Take the exit toward US 45: Sigel, Effingham

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

Exit 162 Toward US 45: Sigel, Effingham

227.8 mi into trip | ~4h 35m in | South Main Street

Turn left onto South Main Street

Navigation decision point

227.9 mi into trip | ~4h 35m in | South Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

243.6 mi into trip | ~5h 14m in | North Papertown Lane

Turn left onto North Papertown Lane

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.97 one way

$71.95 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.14	$39.71	$79.43
premium	$4.72	$45.23	$90.46
diesel	$4.80	$46.00	$91.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 85.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	73.1	0	$25.58	$11.69
Efficient EV	60.9	0	$21.32	$9.74
EV Truck/SUV	97.4	1	$34.10	$15.59

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Joliet, IL

Late night in Joliet on Monday

Local time

5:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

WNW 10 to 15 mph 62% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Shields, IL

Late night in Shields on Monday

Local time

5:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Sunny

W 5 to 9 mph 13% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 14m 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 ~67 min detour Free near mile 8.4

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?

This drive is mostly highway, with 71% of the 243.6 miles on interstates and major roads like I 57. You'll experience a significant stretch of 155.6 miles on I 57 before transitioning to County Road 925 East and South Banker Street. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the route, especially once you leave the main interstate.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 155.6 mi on I 57.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and County Road 925 East. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 243.6 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: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 185.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.8 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

784 ft 491 ft

Total Climb

394 ft

Total Descent

443 ft

Highest Point

784 ft

~87 mi in

Elevation Range

292 ft

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 Shields, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Effingham along the way.

Effingham

185.3 mi in | ~3h 33m

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 Shields, IL

Full guide →

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 5h 14m. Total distance: 243.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 155.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 23 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shields, IL before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Joliet, IL to Shields, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-57

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Green Creek Rest Area - Southbound

Main Line Station Rest Area - Northbound

Illini Prairie Rest Area - Southbound

Illini Prairie Rest Area - Northbound

Green Creek Rest Area - Northbound

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Service Plaza

Main Line Station Rest Area - Southbound

Pilot Travel Center

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Road Ranger

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Petro Stopping Centers

Flying J Travel Center

Truckomat Truck Wash - Effingham

TA

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Joliet, IL

Shields, IL

Same local time

Very similar conditions

5h 14m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Joliet, IL

Arriving in Shields, IL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Shields, IL

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