Origin
Joliet, IL
Afternoon in Joliet on Thursday
Local time
2:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joliet, IL to Flanagan, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
72.1 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Flanagan, IL
gdtography
Trip Overview
The drive from Joliet, IL to Flanagan, IL covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, East 1700 North Road, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.3 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 72.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 29m highway drive covering 72.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and East 1700 North Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.3 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 53.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East 1700 North Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa 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 1h 29m drive. You will face about 10 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 (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street
Turn right onto US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
7.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 126A
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
7.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward IL 116: Pontiac, Flanagan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 116: Pontiac, Flanagan
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 53.3 mi | 57m |
| East 1700 North Road | 7.3 mi | 12m |
| I 80 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| E 1700 N Rd | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Jefferson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Falcon Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Chicago Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 53.3 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Flanagan, IL.
1
Start on this road
111 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 6; IL 53
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Ottawa Street
3
Continue on US 6; IL 53
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Ottawa Street
4
Continue on US 6; IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Chicago Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
6
Merge onto I 80
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 80
Use the right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 126A
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
Merge onto I 55
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 55
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Toward IL 116: Pontiac, Flanagan
10
Turn right onto IL 116
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
West Reynolds Street
11
Continue on IL 116
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 1700 North Road
12
Continue on IL 116
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
E 1700 N Rd
13
Continue on IL 116
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
East 1700 North Road
14
Continue on IL 116
441 ft
·
9 sec
·
E 1700 N Rd
15
Continue on IL 116
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Falcon Highway
16
Turn right onto South Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jefferson Street
17
Turn right onto Lumber Street
396 ft
·
22 sec
·
Lumber Street
18
Turn left onto Main Street
68 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
19
Turn right
13 ft
·
0 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36 mi from Joliet, IL · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Joliet, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Flanagan, IL
The final approach into Flanagan, 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
$11.27 one way
$22.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.38 | $24.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.87 | $27.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.92 | $31.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Flanagan, IL
Afternoon in Flanagan on Thursday
Local time
2:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Gardner, IL
36 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
17 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
1h 29m 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 Joliet, IL to Flanagan, IL covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, East 1700 North Road, I 80. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 miles from Joliet, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.27 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 straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Joliet, IL to Flanagan, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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