Origin
Metropolis, IL
Morning in Metropolis on Monday
Local time
10:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metropolis, IL to Joliet, IL
Drive Time
5h 23m
Distance
346.2 mi
557 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 11m
★
6 AM
5h 24m
8 AM
5h 51m
10 AM
5h 33m
12 PM
5h 31m
3 PM
5h 35m
5 PM
5h 49m
8 PM
5h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metropolis, IL
Paolo Sanchez
Joliet, IL
KITSUN YUEN
Trip Overview
The drive from Metropolis, IL to Joliet, IL covers 346.2 miles and takes about 5h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ferry Street, West 12th Street, North Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
173.1 miles from Metropolis, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 23m drive with frequent turns across 346.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ferry 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Metropolis, IL to Joliet, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 12th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Columbia Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Big Bay Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Columbia | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 57 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ken Gray Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Ferry Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metropolis, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on West 5th Street
46 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Ferry Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Street
3
Turn left onto West 12th Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West 12th Street
4
Turn right onto North Avenue
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
North Avenue
5
Continue on New Columbia Road
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
New Columbia Road
6
Turn right onto Big Bay Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Big Bay Road
7
Take the ramp left toward New Columbia, Big Bay
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
New Columbia, Big Bay
8
Merge slight left
25 mi
·
27 min
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 57 North: Chicago
10
Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
155 mi
·
2 hr 45 min
·
I 57 North: Chicago
13
Take the exit slight right toward Bourbonnais Parkway
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Bourbonnais Parkway
14
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bourbonnais Parkway
15
Turn right
10 mi
·
13 min
16
Turn left onto West Joliet Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Joliet Road
17
Continue on West Arsenal Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Arsenal Road
18
Continue on West Joliet Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West Joliet Road
19
Continue on US Route 52
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US Route 52
20
Continue on South State Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South State Street
21
Continue on West North Street
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West North Street
22
Continue on Manhattan Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Manhattan Road
23
Turn left onto Manhattan Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Manhattan Road
24
Continue on Gardner Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Gardner Street
25
Turn left onto Doris Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Doris Avenue
26
Turn right onto South Chicago Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Chicago Street
27
Keep slight right to continue on Chicago Street
272 ft
·
13 sec
·
Chicago Street
28
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Washington Street
29
Turn right onto Joliet Street
518 ft
·
18 sec
·
Joliet Street
30
Turn right
272 ft
·
20 sec
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.1 miles from Metropolis, IL, or about 2h 41m 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 80 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.1 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joliet, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Metropolis, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Metropolis, IL
This is one driving day of about 346.2 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Metropolis, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 173.1 mi from Metropolis, IL · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173.1 miles from Metropolis, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Joliet, IL
The final approach into Joliet, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Joliet, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.58 one way
$105.17 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $57.97 | $115.94 |
| premium | $4.80 | $65.36 | $130.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $76.91 | $153.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.9 | 1 | $36.35 | $16.62 |
| Efficient EV | 86.6 | 0 | $30.29 | $13.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.5 | 1 | $48.47 | $22.16 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in Joliet on Monday
Local time
10:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
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
5h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Metropolis, IL to Joliet, IL covers 346.2 miles and takes about 5h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ferry Street, West 12th Street, North Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 173.1 miles from Metropolis, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.58 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Metropolis, IL to Joliet, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Metropolis, IL to Joliet, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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