Origin
Riverdale, IL
Morning in Riverdale on Friday
Local time
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Riverdale, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
28.3 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverdale, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.3-mile drive from Riverdale, IL, to Joliet, IL, is an easy day trip, taking about 42 minutes to complete. It's a highway-focused journey, with 76% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-80 and I-57, making it a quick transit between two Midwest locations. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $4, reflecting the short distance. Given its brevity, you won't need to consider overnight stays, and the lack of designated stops means you can plan your own breaks as needed. This route is all about efficient travel within Illinois.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 28.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 28.3-mile trip, with 76% of the drive on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 18 miles on I-80, offering a consistent pace. You'll navigate on I-80 and I-57, with a segment on East 147th Street, meaning the road character shifts from faster interstate speeds to potentially more local traffic as you approach your destination. This profile suggests a drive that is largely about covering ground efficiently rather than scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 18 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 57. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near IL 1 / Halsted Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 28.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (IL 1 / Halsted Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IL 1 / Halsted Street
At end of road, turn left onto IL 1 / Halsted Street
Navigation decision point
8
3.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, M...
7
8.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
7
26.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Richards Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133
Toward Richards Street
7
26.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 Riverdale, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
3.7 mi in
|
~8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 18 mi | 21m |
| I 57 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| East 147th Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Halsted Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West 144th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Chicago Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Richards Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 18 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverdale, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on West 144th Street
37 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 144th Street
2
Continue on West 144th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 144th Street
Use the left lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Halsted Street
4
Turn right onto IL 83
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East 147th Street
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 57 South
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 294 Toll South, I 57 South: Indiana, Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Merge onto I 57
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 80
18 mi
·
21 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward Richards Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
265 ft
·
6 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Richards Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Richards Street
14
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
15
Turn sharp right onto US 6; IL 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Chicago Street
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Chicago Street
17
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Washington Street
18
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft
·
18 sec
·
Joliet Street
19
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.42 one way
$8.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.86 | $9.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.45 | $10.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Morning in Joliet on Friday
Local time
11:16 AM
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
17 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
42m 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 Riverdale, IL to Joliet, IL covers 28.3 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 57, East 147th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.2 miles from Riverdale, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.42 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 17 decision points packed into just 28.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (IL 1 / Halsted Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Riverdale, IL to Joliet, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis 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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