Origin
Schaumburg, IL
Late night in Schaumburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Schaumburg, IL to Joliet, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
44.9 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Schaumburg, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 44.9-mile drive from Schaumburg, IL to Joliet, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 2 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 71% of the journey on interstates, making for efficient travel. You can expect a fuel cost of around $7 for this relatively short distance. As you travel within the Midwest region of Illinois, the drive offers a practical way to connect these two suburban centers without significant detours or complications.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 355 | 31.4 mi | 37m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| South Roselle Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Elgin-O'Hare Tollway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 290 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Roselle Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Thacker Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 355
— 31.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Schaumburg, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on North Pleasant Drive
426 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Pleasant Drive
2
Turn right onto West Thacker Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Thacker Street
3
Turn right onto North Roselle Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Roselle Road
4
Continue on South Roselle Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Roselle Road
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward IL 390 East Toll
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto IL 390
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Elgin-O'Hare Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12
Toward I 290: Chicago, Rockford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 290
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 290
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
31 mi
·
37 min
·
I 355
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Maple Road
13
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ottawa Street
14
Turn right
111 ft
·
8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Schaumburg, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward IL 390 East Toll
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward IL 390 East Toll
8
5.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 290: Chicago, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12
Toward I 290: Chicago, Rockford
7
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 290 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
8
6.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.02 one way
$14.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.71 | $15.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.64 | $17.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Elgin-O'Hare Tollway
(1.8 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
WNW 15 to 20 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:50AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:48AM 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
12 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
1h 2m 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 highway-centric experience for most of this 44.9-mile journey, with 71% of the route utilizing main roads like I-355. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.4 miles on I-355, allowing for consistent speed and minimal interruptions. While the majority is highway, you will also navigate segments on Maple Road and South Roselle Road, which may offer slightly different driving dynamics compared to the interstate. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of highway travel and the navigation through local arteries.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.4 mi on I 355.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 355 and Maple Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
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 44.9 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Schaumburg, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.
Rockford
5.1 mi in
|
~9m
About the Cities
Starting in Schaumburg, IL
Full guide →Schaumburg is a city in Chicagoland, best known for its ever popular Woodfield Mall, the largest mall in Illinois. Its name is derived from a place in Germany.
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 2m. Total distance: 44.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.4 miles on I 355. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Elgin-O'Hare 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 Joliet, 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: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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