Origin
Winfield, IL
Morning in Winfield on Friday
Local time
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winfield, 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
50m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Winfield to Joliet is 35.2 miles and takes about 50 minutes via Veterans Memorial Tollway, Maple Road, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, making it a straightforward Midwest hop. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads, rather than an open highway cruise. It's a short enough journey that you won't need to pack much, but it’s good to be aware of the change in road types as you go.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 35.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating city streets and county roads for the entire 35.2 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.1 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway. Be prepared for a route that requires constant attention to turns and traffic signals, as you'll be weaving through various communities. The road character shifts as you move from more suburban areas to the approaches to Joliet.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Winfield Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Winfield Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Winfield Road
Turn right onto North Winfield Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 88 East: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 131
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
7
10.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 South: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
7
28.6 mi into trip
|
~37m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 18.1 mi | 20m |
| Maple Road | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| North Winfield Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| North Ottawa Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 18.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winfield, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on this road
102 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Winfield Road
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Winfield Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 131
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 355
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1
Toward US 6: Southwest Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Maple Road
10
Turn left onto IL 53
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ottawa Street
11
Turn right
111 ft
·
8 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Winfield, IL · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Winfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Joliet, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Joliet, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.50 one way
$11.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.04 | $12.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.77 | $13.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.58
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(18.1 mi)
$1.27
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(5.2 mi)
$0.31
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Woodridge, IL
18 mi in
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
18 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
50m 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 Winfield, IL to Joliet, IL covers 35.2 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Tollway, Maple Road, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.6 miles from Winfield, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.50 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 9 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Winfield Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Winfield, IL to Joliet, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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