Trip from Fairfield, IL to Joliet, IL

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are I 355, IL 53, Maple Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 28.7 miles from Fairfield, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.97 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Fairfield, IL to Joliet, IL?

The route from Fairfield, IL to Joliet, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Q: Are there national parks near the route from Fairfield, IL to Joliet, IL?

Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

57.4 mi

92 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min

4 AM

1h 14m ★

6 AM

1h 20m

8 AM

1h 32m

10 AM

1h 24m

12 PM

1h 23m

3 PM

1h 25m

5 PM

1h 32m

8 PM

1h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Fairfield, IL to Joliet, IL covers 57.4 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 355, IL 53, Maple Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.4 miles on I 355. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.97 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 57.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 19m highway drive covering 57.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 355 and IL 53. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.4 miles on I 355.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 355 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 355 and IL 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near US 12 / Rand Road.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.4 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 3.9 miles (US 12 / Rand Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 12 / Rand Road

Turn left onto US 12 / Rand Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

7

7.8 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the ramp toward IL 53 South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward IL 53 South

8

12.4 mi into trip | ~20m in | IL 53

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road

8

19.4 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 355

Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 7 Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

7

50.9 mi into trip | ~1h 6m 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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 355	31.4 mi	37m
IL 53	11.3 mi	14m
Maple Road	5.7 mi	11m
Quentin Road	3.7 mi	7m
North Rand Road	2.4 mi	3m
Rand Road	1.5 mi	1m
North Ottawa Street	0.4 mi	1m
Old McHenry Road	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 355 — 31.4 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IL and Joliet, IL.

1

Start on V77

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Old McHenry Road

2

Turn right onto V62

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Quentin Road

3

Turn left

132 ft · 13 sec

4

Turn left onto V62

3.2 mi · 6 min · Quentin Road

5

Turn left onto US 12

1.5 mi · 1 min · Rand Road

Use the left lane.

6

Continue on US 12

2.4 mi · 3 min · North Rand Road

7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward IL 53 South Use the right lane.

8

Merge onto IL 53

4.4 mi · 5 min · IL 53

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53

7.0 mi · 9 min · IL 53

Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 355

31 mi · 37 min · I 355

Exit 7 Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet Use the slight left lane.

11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 1 Toward US 6: Southwest Highway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12

Turn right onto US 6

5.7 mi · 11 min · Maple Road

13

Turn left onto IL 53

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Ottawa Street

14

Turn right

111 ft · 8 sec

15

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 28.7 mi from Fairfield, IL · 40m into the drive

suburb village of Chicago, located in DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomingdale, IL

29 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

Rolling Meadows, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glen Ellyn, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Fairfield, 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

$8.97 one way

$17.95 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$9.85	$19.71
premium	$4.89	$11.05	$22.09
diesel	$5.61	$12.67	$25.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	17.2	$6.03	$2.76
Efficient EV	14.4	$5.02	$2.30
EV Truck/SUV	23	$8.04	$3.67

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Fairfield, IL

Evening in Fairfield on Thursday

Local time

5:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Joliet, IL

Evening in Joliet on Thursday

Local time

5:03 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

71°F

Bloomingdale, IL

29 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

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 19m 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 Fairfield, IL to Joliet, IL covers 57.4 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.