Origin
Danville, IL
Late night in Danville on Saturday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Danville, 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
2h 54m
Distance
115.3 mi
185 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Danville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Danville, IL to Joliet, IL covers 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 136, North 2100 E Road, US 45 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.3 miles on US 136. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
57.6 miles from Danville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Joliet, IL
Full guide →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.
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 2h 54m. Total distance: 115.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 54m highway drive covering 115.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 136 and North 2100 E Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.3 miles on US 136.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 136 is the longest continuous segment at about 39.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 136 and North 2100 E Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Vermilion Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 54m drive. You will face about 16 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 (North Vermilion Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.6 miles (IL 1 / South Dixie Highway): Navigation decision point; at 78.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Vermilion Street
Turn left onto North Vermilion Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
65.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
IL 1 / South Dixie Highway
Turn left onto IL 1 / South Dixie Highway
Navigation decision point
4
78.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the ramp toward I-57 North: Chicago
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 North: Chicago
5
85.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
5
115.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
|
Joliet Street
Turn right onto Joliet Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 136 | 39.3 mi | 58m |
| North 2100 E Road | 14.8 mi | 22m |
| US 45 | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| South State Route 1 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| I 57 | 6.4 mi | 6m |
| North Vermilion Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| IL 17 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Manhattan Road | 5.3 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
US 136
— 39.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danville, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on US 136
13 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto North Vermilion Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
North Vermilion Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 136; IL 1
39 mi
·
58 min
·
US 136; IL 1
4
Turn left onto US 24; IL 1
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East Walnut Street
5
Turn right onto IL 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2100 East Road
6
Continue on IL 1
15 mi
·
22 min
·
North 2100 E Road
7
Continue on IL 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
S 7000E Road
8
Continue on IL 1
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
E 7000S Road
9
Turn left onto IL 1
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Dixie Highway
10
Continue on IL 1
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
South State Route 1
11
Turn left onto IL 17
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 17
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-57 North: Chicago
13
Merge onto I 57
6.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 57
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
15
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bourbonnais Parkway
16
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi
·
13 min
·
US 45; US 52
17
Turn left onto US 52
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Joliet Road
18
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Arsenal Road
19
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West Joliet Road
20
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US Route 52
21
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South State Street
22
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West North Street
23
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Manhattan Road
24
Turn left onto US 52
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Manhattan Road
25
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Gardner Street
26
Turn left onto US 52
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Doris Avenue
27
Turn right onto US 52; IL 53
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Chicago Street
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Chicago Street
29
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Washington Street
30
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft
·
18 sec
·
Joliet Street
31
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.6 miles from Danville, IL, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.3 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 21m
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 Danville, 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 Danville, IL
This is one driving day of about 115.3 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Danville, 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 US 136 for about 39.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.6 mi from Danville, IL · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.6 miles from Danville, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Joliet, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.03 one way
$36.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.79 | $39.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.19 | $44.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.46 | $50.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.11 | $5.53 |
| Efficient EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.14 | $7.38 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 Saturday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
2h 54m 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 Danville, IL to Joliet, IL covers 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 136, North 2100 E Road, US 45. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.6 miles from Danville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.03 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 54m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Vermilion Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.6 miles (IL 1 / South Dixie Highway): Navigation decision point; at 78.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Danville, IL to Joliet, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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