The drive from Mount Vernon, IL to Joliet, IL covers 256.4 miles and takes about 4h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, US 45 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 154.9 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.09 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
128.2 miles from Mount Vernon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 256.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 52m highway drive covering 256.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 154.9 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 154.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 9th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 256.4 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (South 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South 9th Street
Turn left onto South 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
226.3 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
5
256.2 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|Joliet Street
Turn right onto Joliet Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
154.9 mi
2h 45m
Ken Gray Expressway
68.5 mi
1h 14m
US 45
10.1 mi
13m
Manhattan Road
5.3 mi
8m
West Joliet Road
4.4 mi
6m
West North Street
2.3 mi
3m
Broadway Street
2.2 mi
4m
South State Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 154.9 mi, about 2h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Vernon, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on IL 15
143 ft·9 sec·Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto South 9th Street
287 ft·20 sec·South 9th Street
3
Turn left onto IL 15
0.4 mi·40 sec·Main Street
4
Turn straight onto IL 15
2.2 mi·4 min·Broadway Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·21 sec
6
Merge onto I 57; I 64
1.1 mi·1 min·Ken Gray Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
155 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
10
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Bourbonnais Parkway
11
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi·13 min·US 45; US 52
12
Turn left onto US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·West Joliet Road
13
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·2 min·West Arsenal Road
14
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·West Joliet Road
15
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·US Route 52
16
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·3 min·South State Street
17
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi·3 min·West North Street
18
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
19
Turn left onto US 52
2.2 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
20
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·42 sec·Gardner Street
21
Turn left onto US 52
0.1 mi·15 sec·Doris Avenue
22
Turn right onto US 52; IL 53
1.2 mi·2 min·South Chicago Street
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft·12 sec·Chicago Street
24
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Washington Street
25
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft·18 sec·Joliet Street
26
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
27
Arrive at 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 128.2 miles from Mount Vernon, IL, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.9 miles.
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 56 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.2 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 48m
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 Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, IL
This is one driving day of about 256.4 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Mount Vernon, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 154.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.2 mi from Mount Vernon, IL
· 2h 20m into the drive
The midpoint is around 129 miles from Mount Vernon, 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 247.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.09 one way
$80.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.01
$88.02
premium
$4.89
$49.34
$98.68
diesel
$5.61
$56.61
$113.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.9
0
$26.92
$12.31
Efficient EV
64.1
0
$22.43
$10.26
EV Truck/SUV
102.6
1
$35.90
$16.41
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mount Vernon, IL
Late night
in Mount Vernon on Saturday
Local time
2:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joliet, IL
Late night
in Joliet on Saturday
Local time
2:24 AM
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
13 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
4h 52m 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 Mount Vernon, IL to Joliet, IL covers 256.4 miles and takes about 4h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, US 45. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128.2 miles from Mount Vernon, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.09 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 256.4 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (South 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Mount Vernon, IL to Joliet, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
