Origin
Albany Park, IL
Afternoon in Albany Park on Friday
Local time
2:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
46.4 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albany Park, IL
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 46.4-mile drive from Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL takes approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes and is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with North Pulaski Road also playing a role. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $7, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest. The mixed drive profile means you won't be stuck on one type of road for too long, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B within Illinois. This trip is designed for practicality, not leisurely sightseeing.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 46.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive experience on this 46.4-mile route. About 38% of your journey will be on highways, offering stretches of faster travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.9 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the road character will shift between these more open highway segments and potentially more varied local road conditions, keeping the driving engaging without being overly demanding. It's a blend of efficient travel and accessible roadways.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 15.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Pulaski Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.4 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 0.2 miles (North Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Pulaski Road
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
28 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
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 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Nort...
7
28.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
7
39.9 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
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 Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Southwest Suburbs
28 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| North Pulaski Road | 10 mi | 19m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Adlai E Stevenson Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Lawrence Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 15.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany Park, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on West Lawrence Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Lawrence Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Pulaski Road
Use the left lane.
3
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Belden Avenue
4
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
6.8 mi
·
13 min
·
North Pulaski Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 55 South
6
Merge onto I 55
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
8
Continue on I 55
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 355
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Maple Road
14
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ottawa Street
15
Turn right
111 ft
·
8 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.2 mi from Albany Park, IL · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 23.2 miles from Albany Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Joliet, IL
The final approach into Joliet, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.25 one way
$14.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.96 | $15.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.93 | $17.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.24 | $20.49 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.4 mi)
$0.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 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 | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
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
Afternoon in Joliet on Friday
Local time
2:23 PM
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
26 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 12m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL covers 46.4 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, North Pulaski Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.2 miles from Albany Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Pulaski Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Albany Park, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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