Origin
Joliet, IL
Evening in Joliet on Friday
Local time
5:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joliet, IL to Forest Park, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
36.5 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Forest Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.5-mile drive from Joliet to Forest Park, Illinois, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 57 minutes. You'll primarily navigate using the Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, and the Eisenhower Expressway. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest. The road profile suggests a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent changes in direction. It's a convenient option for a quick transit between these two Illinois locations without needing an overnight stay.
About the Cities
Starting 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 57m. Total distance: 36.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a route with a "turn-heavy local drive" character. While 12% of the drive is on highways, the overall feel will likely involve more local road navigation than extended interstate cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.2 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway. This means you'll be making frequent adjustments and turns, so staying attentive to navigation is key. The transition from tollways to local roads will be a significant part of how this drive progresses.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 36.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
9.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Turn left toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
8
20.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 88 Toll: Aurora, Chicago
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 20A
Toward I 88 Toll: Aurora, Chicago
7
21.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Des Plaines Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21A
Toward Des Plaines Avenue
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 Joliet, IL to Forest Park, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
20.9 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 11.2 mi | 13m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| South State Street | 4.3 mi | 9m |
| South Archer Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Collins Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Des Plaines Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 11.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Forest Park, IL.
1
Start on this road
111 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 6; IL 53
175 ft
·
12 sec
·
Ottawa Street
3
Turn left onto US 30
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; US 30
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
5
Continue on US 6; US 30
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Collins Street
6
Continue on IL 171
4.3 mi
·
9 min
·
South State Street
7
Continue on IL 171
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Archer Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 355
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 20A
Toward I 88 Toll: Aurora, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 21A
Toward Des Plaines Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Des Plaines Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Des Plaines Avenue
17
Turn right onto Madison Street
44 ft
·
0 sec
·
Madison Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
Madison Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.3 mi from Joliet, IL · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Joliet, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forest Park, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Forest Park, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.71 one way
$11.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.27 | $12.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.02 | $14.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.06 | $16.12 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.33
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(11.2 mi)
$0.78
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(9.2 mi)
$0.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.83 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Forest Park, IL
Evening in Forest Park on Friday
Local time
5:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
2 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
57m 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 Forest Park, IL covers 36.5 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Eisenhower Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.3 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 $5.71 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 36.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Joliet, IL to Forest Park, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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