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Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
91.5 mi
147 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harvard, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Harvard, IL to Joliet, IL covers 91.5 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 355, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, State Route 23 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.4 miles on I 355. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.30 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.8 miles from Harvard, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
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The drive from Harvard, IL to Joliet, IL covers 91.5 miles and takes about 1h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 21.3 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 91.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Harvard, IL and Joliet, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Suburbs.
Rockford
Suburbs
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 355 | 31.4 mi | 37m |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 25.1 mi | 26m |
| State Route 23 | 10.6 mi | 16m |
| East Grant Highway | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| I 290 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| North Division Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Harvard, IL and Joliet, IL.
Start on US 14
Turn right onto IL 23
Turn left onto US 20
Enter roundabout onto US 20
Continue on US 20
Enter roundabout onto US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 290; IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 6
Turn left onto IL 53
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joliet, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Harvard, 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 Harvard, IL
This is one driving day of about 91.5 miles and 1h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.8 mi from Harvard, IL · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 45.8 miles from Harvard, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$14.30 one way
$28.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.71 | $31.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.61 | $35.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.20 | $40.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.61 | $4.39 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.01 | $3.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.81 | $5.86 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Harvard on Tuesday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Joliet on Tuesday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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