Origin
Joliet, IL
Afternoon in Joliet on Friday
Local time
2:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joliet, IL to Wheeling, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
50.7 mi
82 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Wheeling, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Joliet, IL to Wheeling, IL covers 50.7 miles and takes about 1h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 290, IL 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 24.4 mi | 29m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| IL 53 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| South State Street | 4.3 mi | 9m |
| Palatine Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| South Archer Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Collins Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| South Elmhurst Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 24.4 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Wheeling, 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 Suburbs
Use 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
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward East Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto Palatine Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Palatine Road
14
Take the exit
377 ft
·
10 sec
15
Turn straight onto East Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Frontage Road
16
Turn left onto IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Elmhurst Road
17
Continue on IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Elmhurst Road
18
Turn right onto IL 68
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Dundee Road
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Railroad Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.7 — 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
44.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward East Palatine Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward East Palatine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.86 one way
$15.72 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $8.62 | $17.24 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.84 | $19.67 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.18 | $22.35 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Wheeling, IL
Afternoon in Wheeling on Friday
Local time
2:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
50.7 mi in 1h 14m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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?
9/10
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 Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.7 miles you will encounter 13 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
765 ft
541 ft
Total Climb
292 ft
Total Descent
182 ft
Highest Point
765 ft
~14.5 mi in
Elevation Range
224 ft
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 Wheeling, IL
Full guide →Founded 1894
Wheeling is a village in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. It is home to about 39,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) .
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 1h 14m. Total distance: 50.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 Wheeling, 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 Wheeling, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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