Origin
Joliet, IL
Night in Joliet on Friday
Local time
9:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joliet, IL to Woodlawn, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 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 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Woodlawn, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
Joliet to Woodlawn is 39.4 miles and takes about 55 minutes via I-80 and I-57, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive primarily within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. Given its short duration and highway profile, it's a practical option for a quick transit or a segment of a larger journey. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient, albeit not particularly scenic, trip. Plan this as a single-day drive with minimal time commitment.
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 55m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is an 88% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll be on interstates for the vast majority of the 39.4 miles. Expect stretches of consistent speed limits and straightforward navigation, particularly the longest uninterrupted segment of 18.7 miles on I-80. The Dan Ryan Expressway and I-57 will also contribute to this high-speed feel. While not designed for scenic exploration, its highway nature ensures a direct and predictable journey. The drive progresses by moving you efficiently from one major roadway to the next.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 early in the drive near US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 39.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 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
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
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
36.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 90, I 94: 71st Street
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 59C
Toward I 90, I 94: 71st Street
8
36.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59C
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 Woodlawn, 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 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| South Cottage Grove Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| East 71st Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Chicago Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East 63rd Street | 0.3 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 Woodlawn, 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
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 59C
Toward I 90, I 94: 71st Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 59C
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto South State Street
388 ft
·
11 sec
·
South State Street
13
Turn right onto East 71st Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East 71st Street
14
Turn left onto South Cottage Grove Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cottage Grove Avenue
15
Turn right onto East 63rd Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 63rd Street
16
Turn right onto South Greenwood Avenue
365 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Greenwood Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
South Greenwood Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.7 mi from Joliet, IL · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Joliet, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Woodlawn, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Woodlawn, 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
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.76 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.58 | $15.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Woodlawn, IL
Night in Woodlawn on Friday
Local time
9:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
8 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
55m 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 Woodlawn, IL covers 39.4 miles and takes about 55m 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. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.7 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 $6.16 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 11 decision points packed into just 39.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6; IL 53 / Ottawa Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Joliet, IL to Woodlawn, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin 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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