Origin
Bellwood, IL
Afternoon in Bellwood on Friday
Local time
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellwood, 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
49m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellwood, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.6-mile drive from Bellwood, IL to Joliet, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it perfect for a single day. You'll navigate primarily using the Veterans Memorial Tollway and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a portion on Maple Road. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this is an economical journey. The overall feel is that of a typical, turn-heavy local drive within the Midwest region. Given its short distance and duration, an overnight stay is not necessary for this route.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a drive characterized by frequent turns, indicating a more local feel rather than a pure highway cruise. The highway share is relatively low at 2%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface streets and connecting roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.9 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before more local road navigation resumes. This route offers a blend of quicker tollway segments and more intricate local driving.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 290 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 290 West
9
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora...
8
3.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
7
9.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 355 South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131A
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
7
30.1 mi into trip
|
~36m 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.
Between Bellwood, IL and Joliet, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Indiana
1.9 mi in
|
~3m
|
via I 88; IL 110
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
3.7 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 88; IL 110
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 7.6 mi | 9m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Mannheim Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Frontage Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 19.9 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellwood, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on US 12; US 20; US 45
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mannheim Road
2
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
363 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Frontage Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 290 West
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Eisenhower Expressway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 131A
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 355
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Maple Road
11
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ottawa Street
12
Turn right
111 ft
·
8 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.3 mi from Bellwood, IL · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Bellwood, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Joliet, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Joliet, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.72 one way
$11.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.28 | $12.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.04 | $14.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.85
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.9 mi)
$1.39
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(7.6 mi)
$0.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Woodridge, IL
18 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bellwood, IL to Joliet, IL covers 36.6 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Maple Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.3 miles from Bellwood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.72 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 is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bellwood, IL and Joliet, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
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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