Origin
Plainfield, IL
Late night in Plainfield on Friday
Local time
12:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainfield, IL to Pontiac, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
64.4 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Pontiac, IL
Ernest Westphal
Trip Overview
The drive from Plainfield, IL to Pontiac, IL covers 64.4 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, North 1500 East Road, North Joliet Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.3 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 64.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 64.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and North 1500 East Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 56.3 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North 1500 East Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 59 / North Division Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 59 / North Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 59 / North Division Street
Turn right onto IL 59 / North Division Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
6
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
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 Plainfield, IL to Pontiac, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Streator along the way.
Streator
60.3 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 56.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| North 1500 East Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Joliet Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| North Division Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| West Howard Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Old Route 66 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Hazelcrest Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainfield, IL and Pontiac, IL.
1
Start on West Hazelcrest Drive
309 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Hazelcrest Drive
2
Turn right onto IL 59
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Division Street
3
Turn left onto US 30
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Joliet Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
Merge onto I 55
56 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 55
Use the right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
7
Keep slight left at fork
111 ft
·
2 sec
Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
8
Turn left onto IL 23
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1500 East Road
9
Turn right onto IL 23
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Old Route 66
10
Turn left onto IL 116
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Howard Street
11
Turn right onto North Main Street
313 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Main Street
12
Turn right onto West Madison Street
302 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Madison Street
13
Turn right onto North Mill Street
204 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Mill Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Mill Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.2 mi from Plainfield, IL · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Plainfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pontiac, IL
The final approach into Pontiac, 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
$10.07 one way
$20.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.05 | $22.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.39 | $24.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.22 | $28.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.02 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Pontiac, IL
Late night in Pontiac on Friday
Local time
12:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
6 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
1h 18m 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 Plainfield, IL to Pontiac, IL covers 64.4 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, North 1500 East Road, North Joliet Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.2 miles from Plainfield, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.07 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 straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 59 / North Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Plainfield, IL to Pontiac, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Streator along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Pontiac, IL
More trips to Pontiac, IL
Explore more options from Plainfield, IL or browse trips ending in Pontiac, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.