Origin
Irving Park, IL
Evening in Irving Park on Thursday
Local time
5:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irving Park, IL to Joliet, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
45.5 mi
73 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irving Park, IL
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Irving Park, IL to Joliet, IL covers 45.5 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, North Pulaski Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 45.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Irving Park, IL to Joliet, IL covers 45.5 miles and takes about 1h 10m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 15.9 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 around 2.5 miles in near West Belden Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.5 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 2.5 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
9.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
27.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Nort...
7
27.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
7
39 mi into trip
|
~57m 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.
On the drive from Irving Park, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Southwest Suburbs
27.1 mi in
|
~43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| North Pulaski Road | 8.8 mi | 17m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Adlai E Stevenson Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Avondale Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 15.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irving Park, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on IL 19
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Irving Park Road
2
Turn slight right onto North Avondale Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Avondale Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Pulaski Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Pulaski Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Belden Avenue
5
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
6.8 mi
·
13 min
·
North Pulaski Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
9
Continue on I 55
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 355
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Maple Road
15
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ottawa Street
16
Turn right
111 ft
·
8 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.8 mi from Irving Park, IL · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Irving Park, 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
$7.11 one way
$14.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.81 | $15.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.76 | $17.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.05 | $20.09 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.4 mi)
$0.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Evening in Joliet on Thursday
Local time
5:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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 10m 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 Irving Park, IL to Joliet, IL covers 45.5 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, North Pulaski Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.8 miles from Irving Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.11 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Irving Park, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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