Origin
Chicago Heights, IL
Morning in Chicago Heights on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago Heights, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
27.9 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Chicago Heights to Joliet is 27.9 miles and takes about 43m via I 80 and Vollmer Road, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within the Midwest region, connecting two Illinois communities. The drive offers a mixed experience, blending interstate speeds with local road navigation. Given its short distance and duration, it's an easy option for a quick transit or a short excursion, making it suitable for a single day of travel.
About the Cities
Starting in Chicago Heights, IL
Full guide →Founded 1893
Chicago Heights is a city of 29,000 people (2019) in the Chicagoland region of Illinois. Chicago Heights remains one of the most dangerous cities in Illinois, with rampant poverty and high levels of violent crime.
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 43m. Total distance: 27.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route presents a mixed drive, with 55% of it on highways like I 80. You'll experience a 15.4-mile stretch on I 80, offering a consistent, faster pace. As you transition off the interstate, the drive incorporates local roads like Vollmer Road and Harlem Avenue, which will likely involve lower speed limits and more traffic signals. This blend means you'll get a taste of both efficient highway travel and the more stop-and-go nature of suburban driving.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.4 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 early in the drive near US 30 / East Lincoln Highway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 27.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 30 / East Lincoln Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (CH B66 / Vollmer Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 30 / East Lincoln Highway
Turn right onto US 30 / East Lincoln Highway
Navigation decision point
6
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CH B66 / Vollmer Road
Keep slight left at fork onto CH B66 / Vollmer Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Joliet
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Joliet
7
26.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward Richards Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133
Toward Richards Street
7
26.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 15.4 mi | 18m |
| Vollmer Road | 6.9 mi | 12m |
| Harlem Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Dixie Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Chicago Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Lincoln Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chicago Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 15.4 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago Heights, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on South Halsted Street
19 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Halsted Street
2
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Lincoln Highway
3
Turn right onto IL 1
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Chicago Road
4
Turn left onto Dixie Highway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Dixie Highway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto CH B66
6.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Vollmer Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto IL 43
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Harlem Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 80 West: Joliet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 80
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward Richards Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
265 ft
·
6 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto Richards Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Richards Street
12
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
13
Turn sharp right onto US 6; IL 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Chicago Street
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Chicago Street
15
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Washington Street
16
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft
·
18 sec
·
Joliet Street
17
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.36 one way
$8.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.37 | $10.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Morning in Joliet on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 15 mph
29% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:27AM CDT until April 19 at 9:24PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:27AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
27 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
43m 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 Chicago Heights, IL to Joliet, IL covers 27.9 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Vollmer Road, Harlem Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.9 miles from Chicago Heights, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.36 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 15 decision points packed into just 27.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 30 / East Lincoln Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (CH B66 / Vollmer Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chicago Heights, IL to Joliet, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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