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Trip from Joliet, IL to Steger, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

48m

Distance

30 mi

48 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 44m ★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m

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 Steger, IL, IL

Steger, IL

NIKOLAI FOMIN

Trip Overview

Spanning just 30 miles, this Midwest drive connects Joliet to Steger in roughly 48 minutes. It is a straightforward trip that serves perfectly as a quick day outing rather than an overnight journey. You can expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel for the entire excursion, making it a highly budget-friendly commute. The route utilizes a combination of I-80, Vollmer Road, and Chicago Road to navigate between these two Illinois locations. Because the distance is so short, you have the flexibility to complete the drive in a single session without the need for complex planning. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the modest duration ensures you will reach your destination with ease.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 15.7 mi 19m
Vollmer Road 6.9 mi 12m
Chicago Road 2.8 mi 6m
Dixie Highway 1.5 mi 2m
Harlem Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Chicago Street 0.6 mi 1m
Ottawa Street 0.4 mi 1m
West 34th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 15.7 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

111 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto US 6; IL 53

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Ottawa Street
3

Continue on US 6; IL 53

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Ottawa Street
4

Continue on US 6; IL 53

0.6 mi · 1 min · Chicago Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Gary Indiana
6

Merge onto I 80

16 mi · 19 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 148A Toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn straight onto IL 43

1.3 mi · 2 min · Harlem Avenue
9

Turn left onto CH B66

6.9 mi · 12 min · Vollmer Road
Use the left lane.
10

Turn slight right onto Dixie Highway

1.5 mi · 2 min · Dixie Highway
11

At end of road, turn right onto IL 1

2.8 mi · 6 min · Chicago Road
Use the left lane.
12

Turn right onto CH 13C

199 ft · 7 sec · West 34th Street
13

Turn right

89 ft · 6 sec
14

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Frankfort Square, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Frankfort Square, IL

15 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

South Chicago Heights, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orland Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 27.1 — 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
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 80

Merge onto I 80

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 148A Toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue
6
18.7 mi into trip | ~25m in | CH B66 / Vollmer Road

Turn left onto CH B66 / Vollmer Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
27.1 mi into trip | ~41m in | IL 1 / Chicago Road

At end of road, turn right onto IL 1 / Chicago Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.69 one way

$9.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.15 $10.30
premium $4.89 $5.77 $11.55
diesel $5.61 $6.62 $13.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9 0 $3.15 $1.44
Efficient EV 7.5 0 $2.63 $1.20
EV Truck/SUV 12 0 $4.20 $1.92

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (60% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Joliet, IL

Late night in Joliet on Tuesday

Local time

4:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 to 25 mph 95% chance Live forecast

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM CDT until April 17 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 7:09PM CDT until April 17 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Steger, IL

Late night in Steger on Tuesday

Local time

4:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

21 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

48m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This 30-mile trek offers a mixed driving profile, transitioning from high-speed interstate travel to more localized roads. You will spend about 52% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 15.7 miles along I-80. Once you exit the interstate, the character of the drive shifts as you transition onto Vollmer Road and Chicago Road. These segments provide a change of pace from the typical highway grind, requiring a bit more attention as you navigate toward Steger. Expect a functional drive that balances efficient transit with the practical realities of moving through regional Illinois traffic.

52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.7 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 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 30 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.3 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 48m. Total distance: 30 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 1.3 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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

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

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