Joliet to Zeigler is 289.7 miles and takes about 5h 30m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traveling from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip primarily on a major interstate, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. With a recommended single day of travel, you can expect a mostly uninterrupted drive.
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
144.8 miles from Joliet, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
226.2 mi
4h 3m
Ken Gray Expressway
27.1 mi
29m
South La Grange Road
10.1 mi
13m
Illinois Route 149
5.7 mi
10m
Manhattan Road
5.3 mi
8m
South Cedar Road
3.1 mi
4m
West North Street
2.3 mi
3m
South State Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 226.2 mi, about 4h 3m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,001 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,389
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Zeigler, 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
27 mi·29 min·Ken Gray Expressway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
22
Turn right onto IL 149
0.3 mi·28 sec·Illinois Route 149
23
Enter roundabout onto IL 149
96 ft·2 sec·Illinois Route 149
24
Continue on IL 149
5.5 mi·9 min·Illinois Route 149
25
Continue on IL 149
0.4 mi·46 sec·Linden Street
26
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Main Street
27
Enter roundabout onto Circle Street
398 ft·11 sec·Circle Street
28
Arrive at destination
Circle Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5.5-hour estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for any unexpected delays and to reach your destination with ample daylight. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 226 miles on I 57, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you get too far into that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the latter half of the drive, as services can become less frequent on rural interstates.
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 144.8 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 2h 50m 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 64 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.8 miles or 2h 50m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Zeigler, 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 289.7 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 289.6 — 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
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
5
283 mi into trip|~5h 18m in
Take the exit toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
5
283.5 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|IL 149 / Illinois Route 149
Enter roundabout onto IL 149 / Illinois Route 149
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
289.6 mi into trip|~5h 30m in|Circle Street
Enter roundabout onto Circle Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.33 one way
$96.65 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$52.73
$105.46
premium
$5.25
$59.91
$119.83
diesel
$6.28
$71.58
$143.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.9
1
$30.42
$13.91
Efficient EV
72.4
0
$25.35
$11.59
EV Truck/SUV
115.9
1
$40.56
$18.54
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Joliet, IL
Late night
in Joliet on Thursday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Zeigler, IL
Late night
in Zeigler on Thursday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
68°F
Charleston, IL
145 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
1 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 30m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 90% of the 289.7 miles on interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I 57, including a long stretch of 226.2 miles. The transition to surface roads, like Ken Gray Expressway and South La Grange Road, will occur near the end of your trip. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of the drive.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 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 30m 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 190.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 283 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 35 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 35 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 190.2 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 283 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Zeigler, IL before the return drive.
