Joliet to Vienna is 319.4 miles and takes about 5h 59m via I 57 and I 24, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, taking you from the Midwest plains into the southern part of the state. With a high percentage of highway driving, this route is designed for efficient travel. It's a straightforward option if you need to cover ground quickly between these two points.
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
159.7 miles from Joliet, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
226.2 mi
4h 3m
Ken Gray Expressway
47.2 mi
50m
I 24
12.1 mi
12m
South La Grange Road
10.1 mi
13m
Manhattan Road
5.3 mi
8m
South Cedar Road
3.1 mi
4m
West North Street
2.3 mi
3m
US 45
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 226.2 mi, about 4h 3m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,006 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,239
Quietest
3 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Vienna, 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
1.0 mi·2 min·Chicago Street
5
Turn left onto US 52
0.1 mi·15 sec·Doris Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 52
0.3 mi·36 sec·Gardner Street
7
Continue on US 52
2.2 mi·3 min·Manhattan Road
8
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
9
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi·3 min·West North Street
10
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·3 min·South State Street
11
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·US Route 52
12
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·South Cedar Road
13
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·2 min·West Arsenal Road
14
Continue on US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·West Joliet Road
15
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi·13 min·South La Grange Road
16
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.4 mi·40 sec·Bourbonnais Parkway
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
18
Merge onto I 57
161 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 57
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·Ken Gray Expressway
21
Take the exit
1.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 24 East: Nashville
22
Continue on I 24
12 mi·12 min·I 24
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 14Toward US 45: Vienna, Harrisburg
24
Turn right onto US 45
2.1 mi·3 min·US 45
25
Turn right onto IL 146
0.3 mi·40 sec·West Vine Street
26
Turn right onto North 6th Street
8 ft·0 sec·North 6th Street
27
Arrive at destination
North 6th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 59m duration, this route is easily doable in a single day. Consider leaving Joliet in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight for the drive. You'll have one main stretch of 226.2 miles on I 57, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 226-mile mark on I 57, as services can be spread out in some sections.
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 159.7 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.2 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 70 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.7 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vienna, 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 319.4 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 226.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 319.4 — 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
4
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|US 52 / Doris Avenue
Turn left onto US 52 / Doris Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
190.2 mi into trip|~3h 38m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
6
316.6 mi into trip|~5h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 45: Vienna, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 14
Toward US 45: Vienna, Harrisburg
5
319.4 mi into trip|~5h 59m in|North 6th Street
Turn right onto North 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.17 one way
$94.34 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$52.07
$104.14
premium
$4.72
$59.30
$118.61
diesel
$4.80
$60.31
$120.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.8
1
$33.54
$15.33
Efficient EV
79.9
0
$27.95
$12.78
EV Truck/SUV
127.8
1
$44.72
$20.44
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Joliet, IL
Afternoon
in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Areas Of Smoke
WSW 5 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Vienna, IL
Afternoon
in Vienna on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
87°F
Shelbyville, IL
160 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
2 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
5h 59m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 91% of the 319.4 miles on interstates like I 57 and I 24. You'll experience a longest stretch of 226.2 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a steady cruising pace with frequent exits along the interstate segments.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 59m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 52 / Doris Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 190.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
The longest stretch is about 226.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 38 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 52 / Doris Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 190.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Vienna, IL before the return drive.
