Origin
Joliet, IL
Evening in Joliet on Thursday
Local time
8:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joliet, IL to North Center, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
North Center, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
The drive from Joliet, IL to North Center, IL covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.7 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 12m highway drive covering 51.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 57. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.7 miles on I 80.
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 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 57. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.9 miles in.
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 51.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 57 North, I 294 North: Chicago, Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 151B
Toward I 57 North, I 294 North: Chicago, Wiscon...
8
37.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
7
48.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Armitage Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48A
Toward Armitage Avenue
6
48.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
West Armitage Avenue
Turn sharp right onto West Armitage Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
51.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 North Center, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
Wisconsin
19.9 mi in
|
~26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 18.7 mi | 22m |
| I 57 | 13.4 mi | 18m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| North Ashland Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Lincoln Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Chicago Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 18.7 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and North Center, 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
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Chicago Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Gary Indiana
6
Merge onto I 80
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 151B
Toward I 57 North, I 294 North: Chicago, Wisconsin
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 57
13 mi
·
18 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 48A
Toward Armitage Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn sharp right onto West Armitage Avenue
468 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Armitage Avenue
14
Turn left onto North Ashland Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Ashland Avenue
15
Turn slight left onto North Lincoln Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lincoln Avenue
16
Turn left onto West Byron Street
329 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Byron Street
17
Turn right onto North Damen Avenue
402 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Damen Avenue
18
Turn left
73 ft
·
9 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right
171 ft
·
12 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.6 mi from Joliet, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Joliet, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in North Center, IL
The final approach into North Center, 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
$8.00 one way
$16.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.79 | $17.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.85 | $19.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
North Center, IL
Evening in North Center on Thursday
Local time
8:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
30 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 12m 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 North Center, IL covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.6 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 $8.00 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 51.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Joliet, IL to North Center, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
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