Origin
Sycamore, IL
Late night in Sycamore on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sycamore, 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 27m
Distance
55.6 mi
89 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 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sycamore, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 63.6-mile drive from Sycamore to Joliet, Illinois, is a manageable 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it an ideal day trip within the Midwest. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with no highway driving involved, so expect a steady pace with frequent turns. With an estimated fuel cost of just $10, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. Since there are no designated stops suggested and the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to depart at your convenience and arrive without feeling rushed. This route is perfect if you're looking for a straightforward journey between two Illinois communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| Lincoln Highway | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| Plainfield Road | 5.2 mi | 11m |
| South Peace Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Hill Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| North Joliet Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| IL 25 | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North Peace Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 22.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sycamore, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on IL 64
24 ft
·
8 sec
·
West State Street
2
Turn left onto Somonauk Street
416 ft
·
10 sec
·
Somonauk Street
3
Turn right onto West Elm Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
West Elm Street
4
Continue on DeKalb Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
DeKalb Avenue
5
Turn left onto South Peace Road
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Peace Road
6
Continue on North Peace Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Peace Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 88 Toll East: Chicago
8
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
9
Take the exit onto IL 56
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 56
Exit 117
Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
11
Turn left onto Sullivan Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Sullivan Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto IL 25
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
IL 25
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto East New York Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East New York Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn slight right
175 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn slight right onto North Ohio Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
North Ohio Street
16
Turn left onto East Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Galena Boulevard
17
Continue on Hill Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hill Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn straight onto US 30
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto US 30
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
143rd Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto US 30; IL 59
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Division Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto US 30
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North Joliet Road
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 30
5.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Plainfield Road
23
Continue on US 30
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Center Street
24
Turn left onto US 30
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Jefferson Street
25
Turn left onto Joliet Street
174 ft
·
6 sec
·
Joliet Street
26
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Sycamore, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 45.8 — 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
|
Somonauk Street
Turn left onto Somonauk Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Elm Street
Turn right onto West Elm Street
Navigation decision point
8
29.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
IL 56
Take the exit onto IL 56 toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
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 117
Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
6
33.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
East New York Street
Turn left onto East New York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
45.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street
Turn right onto US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.69 one way
$17.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.54 | $19.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.70 | $21.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.28 | $24.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.33
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(22.2 mi)
$1.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Aurora, IL
28 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 27m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive on this route, as indicated by the 0% highway share. Your journey will largely follow Somonauk Street, West Elm Street, and DeKalb Avenue, weaving through local infrastructure. Because there's no significant highway portion, the longest uninterrupted stretch is not a defining feature of this drive. Instead, anticipate a more intimate experience with the landscape as you navigate through towns and residential areas. This route offers a consistent, ground-level perspective throughout its entirety.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Somonauk Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.6 miles you will encounter 16 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 (Somonauk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.9 miles (IL 56): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Sycamore, IL
Full guide →Founded 1835
Sycamore is a city in the Kishwaukee Valley, located in Northern Illinois with a population of about 17,188.
Top landmarks
- • DeKalb County Courthouse — local government building in the United States
- • Sycamore Historic District — historic district in Sycamore, Illinois
- • Chicago and Northwestern Depot — railway station in Sycamore, the United States of America
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 27m. Total distance: 55.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m 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 22.2 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.33 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan 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 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: near the start (Somonauk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.9 miles (IL 56): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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