Origin
West Frankfort, IL
Morning in West Frankfort on Monday
Local time
10:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Frankfort, IL to Joliet, IL
Drive Time
4h 34m
Distance
285 mi
459 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 21m
★
6 AM
4h 34m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 44m
12 PM
4h 41m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
5h 0m
8 PM
4h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joliet, IL
KITSUN YUEN
Trip Overview
The drive from West Frankfort, IL to Joliet, IL covers 285 miles and takes about 4h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on the route, Ken Gray Expressway, I 57 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.29 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
142.5 miles from West Frankfort, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 34m drive with frequent turns across 285 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
the route 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 4h 34m 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 West Frankfort, IL to Joliet, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ken Gray Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 57 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bourbonnais Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Joliet Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Arsenal Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 52 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
the route
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Frankfort, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
3
Exit the roundabout
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway
31 mi
·
33 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
5
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
155 mi
·
2 hr 45 min
·
I 57 North: Chicago
7
Take the exit slight right toward Bourbonnais Parkway
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Bourbonnais Parkway
8
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bourbonnais Parkway
9
Turn right
10 mi
·
13 min
10
Turn left onto West Joliet Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Joliet Road
11
Continue on West Arsenal Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Arsenal Road
12
Continue on West Joliet Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West Joliet Road
13
Continue on US Route 52
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US Route 52
14
Continue on South State Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South State Street
15
Continue on West North Street
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West North Street
16
Continue on Manhattan Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Manhattan Road
17
Turn left onto Manhattan Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Manhattan Road
18
Continue on Gardner Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Gardner Street
19
Turn left onto Doris Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Doris Avenue
20
Turn right onto South Chicago Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Chicago Street
21
Keep slight right to continue on Chicago Street
272 ft
·
13 sec
·
Chicago Street
22
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Washington Street
23
Turn right onto Joliet Street
518 ft
·
18 sec
·
Joliet Street
24
Turn right
272 ft
·
20 sec
25
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 142.5 miles from West Frankfort, IL, or about 2h 17m 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 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.5 miles or 2h 17m 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 45m
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 West Frankfort, 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 West Frankfort, IL
This is one driving day of about 285 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Frankfort, 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 142.5 mi from West Frankfort, IL · 2h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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 142.5 miles from West Frankfort, 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
$43.29 one way
$86.58 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $47.72 | $95.44 |
| premium | $4.80 | $53.80 | $107.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $63.32 | $126.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.5 | 1 | $29.92 | $13.68 |
| Efficient EV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.94 | $11.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114 | 1 | $39.90 | $18.24 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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
10:52 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
32 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
4h 34m 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 West Frankfort, IL to Joliet, IL covers 285 miles and takes about 4h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are the route, Ken Gray Expressway, I 57 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 142.5 miles from West Frankfort, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.29 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 4h 34m 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 West Frankfort, IL to Joliet, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Frankfort, IL to Joliet, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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