The drive from Richmond, IL to Joliet, IL covers 82.3 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 I 355, US 12, IL 53 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.4 miles on I 355.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.87 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
41.2 miles from Richmond, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m 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 1h 48m. Total distance: 82.3 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 (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 48m highway drive covering 82.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 355 and US 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.4 miles on I 355.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 355 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 355 and US 12. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 12 / Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 82.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 12 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 12 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 12 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
32.7 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the ramp toward IL 53 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 53 South
8
37.4 mi into trip|~49m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
44.4 mi into trip|~58m in|I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
7
75.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 355
31.4 mi
37m
US 12
31 mi
40m
IL 53
11.3 mi
14m
Maple Road
5.7 mi
11m
Main Street
1.7 mi
2m
North Ottawa Street
0.4 mi
1m
Broadway Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 355
— 31.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on Broadway Street
46 ft·7 sec·Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto US 12
1.7 mi·2 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 12
12 mi·14 min·US 12
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi·26 sec·US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi·7 sec·US 12; IL 59
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
14 mi·20 min·US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward IL 53 SouthUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto IL 53
4.4 mi·5 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi·9 min·IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
31 mi·37 min·I 355
Exit 7Toward I 355 South Tollway: JolietUse the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 1Toward US 6: Southwest HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi·11 min·Maple Road
16
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi·1 min·North Ottawa Street
17
Turn right
111 ft·8 sec
18
Arrive at 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 41.2 miles from Richmond, IL, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.4 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 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 28m
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 Richmond, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richmond, IL
This is one driving day of about 82.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Richmond, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 355 for about 31.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.2 mi from Richmond, IL
· 54m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 68.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.87 one way
$25.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.13
$28.25
premium
$4.89
$15.84
$31.68
diesel
$5.61
$18.17
$36.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.20
$3.29
EV Truck/SUV
32.9
0
$11.52
$5.27
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Richmond, IL
Late night
in Richmond on Saturday
Local time
2:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 20 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Joliet, IL
Late night
in Joliet on Saturday
Local time
2:01 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
28 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 48m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Richmond, IL to Joliet, IL covers 82.3 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 I 355, US 12, IL 53. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.2 miles from Richmond, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.87 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 12 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Richmond, 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.
