Origin
McKinley Park, IL
Night in McKinley Park on Friday
Local time
11:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKinley Park, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
39.3 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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 7m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
1h 0m
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.
McKinley Park, IL
Amicia Short
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
McKinley Park, IL to Joliet, IL is 39.3 miles and takes about 57 minutes via Adlai Stevenson Expressway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip within the Midwest region, specifically connecting two points in Illinois. It's a practical drive, mostly on well-traveled expressways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 39.3 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.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive, with 51% of it on highways. You'll spend the longest uninterrupted stretch, 15.9 miles, on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The drive begins on the Veterans Memorial Tollway before transitioning to other main roads like Maple Road. Expect a predominantly highway feel for a significant portion, punctuated by changes as you navigate through different road types.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 15.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near I 55 / Stevenson Expressway.
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 9 decision points packed into just 39.3 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 1 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 21.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
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 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Nort...
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
5
22.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.8 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
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 McKinley Park, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Southwest Suburbs
20.9 mi in
|
~29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| North Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Damen Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Adlai E Stevenson Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 15.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinley Park, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on this road
472 ft
·
36 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto South Damen Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Damen Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 55 South
4
Merge onto I 55
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
6
Continue on I 55
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 269
Toward I 355 South Toll, I 355 North Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 355 Tollway South: Southwest Suburbs
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 355
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Maple Road
12
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ottawa Street
13
Turn right
111 ft
·
8 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.7 mi from McKinley Park, IL · 27m 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 McKinley Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Joliet, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Joliet, 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
$6.14 one way
$12.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.75 | $13.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.56 | $15.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.68 | $17.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.4 mi)
$0.73
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: 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 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $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
Joliet, IL
Night in Joliet on Friday
Local time
11:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
7 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 McKinley Park, IL to Joliet, IL covers 39.3 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, Maple Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.7 miles from McKinley Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.14 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 9 decision points packed into just 39.3 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 1 miles (I 55 / Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 21.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from McKinley Park, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs 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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