Joliet, IL to Lakewood, IL is 64.5 miles and takes about 1h 41m via Veterans Memorial Tollway and I 290, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. Expect a drive that involves navigating city streets and tollways, rather than wide-open highway. It's a relatively short distance, making it suitable for a day trip or an easy start to a longer journey. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal planning required.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.2 miles from Joliet, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 64.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized by frequent turns and a mix of road types, fitting its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. Only 12% of the journey utilizes highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on local roads and tollways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.4 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway. As you progress, you'll transition from the initial stages around Joliet onto the Veterans Memorial Tollway before merging onto I 290 and then West Northwest Highway, experiencing a varied driving feel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 24.4 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 9.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These 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
6
39.7 mi into trip|~58m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
42 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward Kirchoff Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Kirchoff Road
6
43.1 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|South Plum Grove Road
Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
46.7 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 14 / West Northwest Highway
Turn left onto US 14 / West Northwest Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Tollway
24.4 mi
29m
West Northwest Highway
16.3 mi
26m
I 290
5.6 mi
6m
South State Street
4.3 mi
9m
South Archer Avenue
2.4 mi
4m
IL 53
2.2 mi
2m
Collins Street
2 mi
4m
South Plum Grove Road
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 24.4 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Lakewood, 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 SuburbsUse the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 355
24 mi·29 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi·6 min·I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi·2 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Kirchoff RoadUse the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Kirchoff Road
14
Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road
1.9 mi·3 min·South Plum Grove Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto West Colfax Street
1.6 mi·2 min·West Colfax Street
16
Continue on Sterling Avenue
446 ft·19 sec·Sterling Avenue
17
Turn left onto US 14
16 mi·26 min·West Northwest Highway
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 14
0.4 mi·41 sec·West Virginia Street
19
Turn left onto South Dole Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·South Dole Avenue
20
Continue on Lake Shore Drive
509 ft·22 sec·Lake Shore Drive
21
Continue on Lake Avenue
0.2 mi·41 sec·Lake Avenue
22
Turn left onto Riverside Drive
305 ft·14 sec·Riverside Drive
23
Turn right onto Broadway Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 41m duration and 64.5-mile distance, this is an easy same-day trip. You'll want to depart Joliet with plenty of daylight, as the frequent turns might slow you down more than expected. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off, as services might be more spaced out on the local road segments. There are no specific stops recommended in the data, but with a drive this length, flexibility is key; simply pull over when you need a break. Keep an eye out for the transitions between tollways and local roads, particularly as you approach Lakewood.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.2 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.4 miles.
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 14 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.2 miles or 48m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Joliet, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Joliet, IL
This is one driving day of about 64.5 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Joliet, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Tollway for about 24.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.2 mi from Joliet, IL
· 48m into the drive
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Joliet, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lakewood, IL
The final approach into Lakewood, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 11.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.08 one way
$20.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.07
$22.14
premium
$4.89
$12.41
$24.82
diesel
$5.61
$14.24
$28.48
Estimated Tolls: $1.71
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(24.4 mi)$1.71
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
$10
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.3
0
$6.77
$3.10
Efficient EV
16.1
0
$5.64
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.03
$4.13
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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 15, 2026
Origin
Joliet, IL
Evening
in Joliet on Friday
Local time
7:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, IL
Evening
in Lakewood on Friday
Local time
7:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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 41m 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 Lakewood, IL covers 64.5 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Tollway, West Northwest Highway, I 290. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.2 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 $10.08 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 64.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 9.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Joliet, IL to Lakewood, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
