This 97.5-mile drive from Joliet, IL, to Washburn, IL, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under two hours, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. Primarily utilizing I-80 and I-39, with a short section on 700 North Road, the journey is largely highway-focused. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick getaway within the Midwest. The efficiency of this drive means you can dedicate more time to your destination rather than the travel itself.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.8 miles from Joliet, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
54.1 mi
59m
I 39
23.6 mi
25m
700 North Road
9.1 mi
13m
Main Street
5.4 mi
9m
2160 E Rd
3 mi
5m
Ottawa Street
0.4 mi
1m
Chicago Street
0.4 mi
1m
North Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 54.1 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Washburn, 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
0.4 mi·1 min·Chicago Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
6
Merge onto I 80
54 mi·59 min·I 80
Use the right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 79AToward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
8
Merge onto I 39; US 51
24 mi·25 min·I 39; US 51
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward IL 17: Lacon, Wenona
10
Turn straight onto IL 17
9.1 mi·13 min·700 North Road
11
Turn left onto IL 89
3.0 mi·5 min·2160 E Rd
12
Continue on IL 89
5.4 mi·9 min·Main Street
13
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 89
0.4 mi·37 sec·North Jefferson Street
14
Arrive at destination
IL 89
Trip Plan
Given its short 1 hour and 58-minute duration, this drive offers excellent flexibility. You can depart anytime, but an early start will allow for a full day at your destination. There are no recommended stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 54.1-mile stretch on I-80, as services might be more spaced out on the interstate compared to local roads.
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 48.8 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.1 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.8 miles or 55m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washburn, 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 97.5 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Joliet, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 54.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.3 — 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
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79A
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomin...
5
79.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward IL 17: Lacon, Wenona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 17: Lacon, Wenona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.24 one way
$30.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.74
$33.47
premium
$4.89
$18.76
$37.53
diesel
$5.61
$21.53
$43.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.24
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.53
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.65
$6.24
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 to 25 mph95% chanceLive 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
Washburn, IL
Late night
in Washburn on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Ottawa, IL
49 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
23 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
1h 58m 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.
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?
Expect an 80% highway experience on this route, characterized by a profile that leans heavily into interstate driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.1 miles on I-80, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is dedicated highway, the transition to local roads like 700 North Road introduces a slight change of pace as you approach Washburn. This drive prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently over showcasing varied scenery.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 39. 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 1h 58m drive. You will face about 8 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Joliet, IL and Washburn, IL, road signs point toward Bloomington and Wenona.
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 54.1 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Washburn, IL before heading back.
