Abingdon to Joliet is 170.5 miles and takes about 3h 11m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Illinois, moving you from the Midwest region towards the Chicago metropolitan area. It's a pretty straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground. Plan for a single day of travel, as the duration is well within typical driving limits.
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
85.2 miles from Abingdon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
121.2 mi
2h 10m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
36.4 mi
39m
North Monroe Street
9.9 mi
14m
West Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Center Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Hickory Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Joliet Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 121.2 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Abingdon, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on West Pearl Street
82 ft·8 sec·West Pearl Street
2
Turn left onto IL 41
9.9 mi·14 min·North Monroe Street
3
Turn left onto IL 41
0.3 mi·35 sec·West Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
5
Merge onto US 34; IL 110
4.9 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
31 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·48 sec
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
8
Merge onto I 80
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 131Toward Center Street
10
Continue on South Center Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·South Center Street
11
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Hickory Street
12
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi·51 sec·West Jefferson Street
13
Turn left onto Joliet Street
174 ft·6 sec·Joliet Street
14
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 11m estimated drive time, leaving Abingdon in the morning allows ample daylight to reach Joliet, making it a comfortable one-day trip. The longest stretch without a stop is over 121 miles on I 80, so consider fueling up before you depart or at your first opportunity after leaving Abingdon to ensure you're comfortable. While there's only one recommended stop, it's wise to factor in brief breaks for stretching or snacks as needed, especially during the longer highway segments. Keep an eye on traffic as you approach the Joliet area, as congestion can increase closer to the city.
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 85.2 miles from Abingdon, IL, or about 1h 37m 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.2 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 36m
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 Abingdon, 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 Abingdon, IL
This is one driving day of about 170.5 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Abingdon, 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.
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 60.9
Geneseo, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+13099444173
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 168.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 41 / North Monroe Street
Turn left onto IL 41 / North Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
5
10.3 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
15.5 mi into trip|~21m 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
47.6 mi into trip|~56m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
168.8 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.66 one way
$53.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.27
$58.53
premium
$4.89
$32.81
$65.62
diesel
$5.61
$37.64
$75.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.2
0
$17.90
$8.18
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.92
$6.82
EV Truck/SUV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Abingdon, IL
Afternoon
in Abingdon on Saturday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joliet, IL
Afternoon
in Joliet on Saturday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Peru, IL
85 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
18 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
3h 11m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey taking place on major expressways. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 80, which includes a significant 121.2-mile stretch without needing to exit. Expect a consistent pace for much of the trip, characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel. While the profile is predominantly highway, the initial and final segments on local roads like North Monroe Street offer a brief change of pace before rejoining the faster routes.
92% 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: 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 early in the drive near IL 41 / North Monroe 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 11m drive. You will face about 10 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 (IL 41 / North Monroe Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.5 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Abingdon, 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (IL 41 / North Monroe Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.5 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Joliet, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
