Origin
Joliet, IL
Evening in Joliet on Friday
Local time
7:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joliet, IL to Richmond, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
79.7 mi
128 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Richmond, IL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Joliet, IL to Richmond, IL covers 79.7 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ottawa Street, East Jefferson Street, Collins Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.8 miles from Joliet, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
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 1h 48m. Total distance: 79.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 48m drive with frequent turns across 79.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Ottawa Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Joliet, IL to Richmond, IL is easy. At 1h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Joliet, IL to Richmond, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa Street | — | — |
| East Jefferson Street | — | — |
| Collins Street | — | — |
| South State Street | — | — |
| South Archer Avenue | — | — |
| I 355 North | — | — |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | — | — |
| Lake Cook Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Ottawa Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joliet, IL and Richmond, IL.
1
Start on the route
112 ft
·
10 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Ottawa Street
174 ft
·
12 sec
·
Ottawa Street
3
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
4
Keep slight right to continue on East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
5
Continue on Collins Street
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Collins Street
6
Continue on South State Street
4.3 mi
·
9 min
·
South State Street
7
Continue on South Archer Avenue
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Archer Avenue
8
Turn left onto I 355 North: West Suburbs
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 355 North: West Suburbs
9
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
10
Merge slight left
5.6 mi
·
6 min
11
Keep slight left
8.9 mi
·
11 min
12
Continue on Lake Cook Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Cook Road
13
Continue on North Rand Road
14 mi
·
18 min
·
North Rand Road
14
Continue straight
1.9 mi
·
2 min
15
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
16
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
2 min
17
Turn right onto Broadway Street
46 ft
·
2 sec
·
Broadway Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 39.8 miles from Joliet, IL, or about 54m into the drive.
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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 miles or 54m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 79.7 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Joliet, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.8 mi from Joliet, IL · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.8 miles from Joliet, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Richmond, IL
The final approach into Richmond, 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
$12.46 one way
$24.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.68 | $27.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.34 | $30.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.60 | $35.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 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 | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
| Efficient EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.97 | $3.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.16 | $5.10 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Richmond, IL
Evening in Richmond on Friday
Local time
7:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 48m 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 Richmond, IL covers 79.7 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ottawa Street, East Jefferson Street, Collins Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.8 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 $12.46 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.
The drive from Joliet, IL to Richmond, IL is easy. At 1h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Joliet, IL to Richmond, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Joliet, IL to Richmond, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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