Origin
La Salle, IL
Late night in La Salle on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Salle, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
58.1 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Salle, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting La Salle to Joliet is a straightforward 58.1-mile journey that typically takes about 56 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, US 6, and I-80 East. Since the total drive time is under an hour, this is an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, it is a very economical route for a quick regional excursion. Both cities are firmly rooted in the Midwest, making this a consistent drive across the Illinois landscape. It is a practical choice if you need to travel between these two points without the need for extensive planning or complex logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 52.8 mi | 57m |
| I 39 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| US 6 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| West Jefferson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Center Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hickory Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Joliet Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tonti Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 52.8 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Salle, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on Tonti Street
171 ft
·
12 sec
·
Tonti Street
2
Turn left onto US 6
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
4
Merge onto I 39; US 51
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 39; US 51
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 59A
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 80
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
8
Continue on South Center Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Center Street
9
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hickory Street
10
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
11
Turn left onto Joliet Street
174 ft
·
6 sec
·
Joliet Street
12
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.1 miles from La Salle, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 57.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
5
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 59A
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
56.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
4
57.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 30 / West Jefferson Street
Turn right onto US 30 / West Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.08 one way
$18.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.97 | $19.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.18 | $22.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.83 | $25.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.08 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.13 | $3.72 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Joliet, IL
Late night in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 10 to 15 mph
31% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 16 at 2:08PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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 7m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul on this 58.1-mile trek. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more involved experience behind the wheel that keeps you attentive to turns and local road conditions. The route avoids the repetitive nature of long-distance highway travel, favoring a more hands-on driving style. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently as you transition between La Salle and Joliet. It is a short trip, but the technical nature of the roads means you will stay engaged from start to finish.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.8 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 around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.6 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
726 ft
541 ft
Total Climb
404 ft
Total Descent
425 ft
Highest Point
726 ft
~21.8 mi in
Elevation Range
185 ft
About the Cities
Arriving 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 1h 7m. Total distance: 58.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.8 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: at 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.6 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 Joliet, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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