Macomb to Joliet is 207.5 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 80 and US 67, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route is almost entirely highway, making for a straightforward trip. If you're looking for a quick, no-fuss way to get between these two points, this is a solid option for a single-day drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103.8 miles from Macomb, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
121.2 mi
2h 10m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
80.2 mi
1h 30m
US 67
2.9 mi
4m
South Monmouth Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Center Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Hickory Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Randolph Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 121.2 mi, about 2h 10m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~796 veh/hr typical
· worst 971
Quietest
2 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Macomb, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on North Lafayette Street
265 ft·9 sec·North Lafayette Street
2
Turn right onto East Carroll Street
411 ft·23 sec·East Carroll Street
3
Turn left onto North Randolph Street
412 ft·16 sec·North Randolph Street
4
Turn left onto US 67; US 136
150 ft·4 sec·East Calhoun Street
5
Take the exit onto US 67; US 136
2.9 mi·4 min·US 67; US 136
6
Continue on US 67; IL 110
3.4 mi·4 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Continue on US 67; IL 110
0.7 mi·1 min·South Monmouth Street
8
Continue on US 67; IL 110
45 mi·52 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
31 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·48 sec
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 80
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 131Toward Center Street
13
Continue on South Center Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·South Center Street
14
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Hickory Street
15
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi·51 sec·West Jefferson Street
16
Turn left onto Joliet Street
174 ft·6 sec·Joliet Street
17
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you have the flexibility to leave when you're ready. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush hour if you're coming from or going to a major metro area, though this route is primarily on interstates. With a total drive time under 4 hours, you might only need one stop for fuel or a quick break, especially since the longest stretch on I 80 is over 121 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you near Joliet, as services can become more spaced out on some rural highway stretches.
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 103.8 miles from Macomb, IL, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.2 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joliet, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Macomb, 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 Macomb, IL
This is one driving day of about 207.5 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Macomb, 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 80 for about 121.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 205.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Carroll Street
Turn right onto East Carroll Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 67; US 136 / East Calhoun Street
Turn left onto US 67; US 136 / East Calhoun Street
Navigation decision point
6
52.6 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
205.9 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Take the exit toward Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.64 one way
$61.29 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.83
$67.66
premium
$4.72
$38.53
$77.05
diesel
$4.80
$39.18
$78.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.79
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.16
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.05
$13.28
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Macomb, IL
Morning
in Macomb on Sunday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
N 0 to 5 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:44PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:04PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Joliet, IL
Morning
in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Smoke
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:44PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:04PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
89°F
Clinton, IA
104 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
3h 53m 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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 207.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience for most of this trip, with 98% of the 207.5 miles on highways. You'll be on I 80 for a significant stretch, including one segment of 121.2 miles without needing to exit. The transition to US 67 marks the end of the primary highway cruising, where you might notice more frequent exits and local traffic as you approach your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 121.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Carroll 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 3h 53m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Carroll Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 67; US 136 / East Calhoun Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
778 ft541 ft
Total Climb
199 ft
Total Descent
365 ft
Highest Point
778 ft
~29.6 mi in
Elevation Range
237 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Macomb, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
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 121.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Carroll Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 67; US 136 / East Calhoun Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Joliet, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
