How far is Ashland, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Ashland, IL to Joliet, IL is about 179.1 miles (288.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
179.12 mi
03h 28m
Flight
151.52 mi
243.84 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ashland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
151.52 mi
Kilometers
243.84 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
179.12 mi
Kilometers
288.27 km
Drive Time
03h 28m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Tue, May 26, 3:36 AM CDT
Return by in Ashland
Tue, May 26, 7:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ashland
2026-05-26T00:08
Arrive Joliet
Tue, May 26, 3:36 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ashland
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Towanda
IL

Township in McLean County, Illinois

From Ashland
89.5 mi
01h 44m
To Joliet
89.6 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph E
Destination
84°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ashland and Joliet.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ashland and Joliet.

  1. 1

    Start on West Washington Street

    59 m · 14 sec · West Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Yates Street

    1281 ft · 44 sec · South Yates Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Fremont Street

    1797 ft · 38 sec · East Fremont Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right

    11 mi · 16 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1.5 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    5 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Veterans Parkway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Veterans Parkway

  8. 8

    Continue on North Peoria Road

    5.3 mi · 8 min · North Peoria Road

  9. 9

    Take the exit straight

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    93.9 mi · 1 hr 41 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Indiana

    1.2 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Center Street

    1.3 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Continue on South Center Street

    1401 ft · 38 sec · South Center Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Hickory Street

    1164 ft · 36 sec · Hickory Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Street

    1572 ft · 52 sec · West Jefferson Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Joliet Street

    53 m · 7 sec · Joliet Street

  19. 19

    Turn right

    83 m · 20 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ashland and Joliet.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
123 mi · 69%
North Peoria Road
26.7 mi · 15%
East Fremont Street
6.25 mi · 3%
I 80 East
5.8 mi · 3%
Veterans Parkway
4.23 mi · 2%
Center Street
0.8 mi
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

93.9 mi · 01h 41m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.6 mi
151.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Towanda
01h 44m from Ashland
Leave By
10:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Ashland and Mostly Sunny near Joliet.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ashland to Joliet?

The road trip is about 179.1 miles (288.3 km) and usually takes 03h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Towanda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.5 miles from Ashland and 89.6 miles from Joliet.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 151.5 miles (243.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.83 one way or $47.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Ashland and Mostly Sunny near Joliet.

Stop Ideas Near Towanda

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Towanda and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 3.1 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 5.1 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 5.1 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Towanda.

RAIL

Uptown Station

9 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

41 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Lincoln

61 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

68 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ashland and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 151.52 mi (243.84 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Ashland

Village in Cass County, Illinois

Population1,169
Coordinates39.8878300, -90.0078900
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: Ashland (-90.00789, 39.88783)
End: Joliet (-88.0834, 41.52519)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 288 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.32 gal
23.93 L · about $23.83
Round trip
$47.67
12.64 gal · 47.86 L
Estimated CO2
56.2 kg one way
Round trip: 112.3 kg / 248 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.83 $47.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.88 $53.76
Premium $4.65 $29.41 $58.83
Diesel $5.30 $33.52 $67.04

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Ashland and Joliet. The current time is 00:08:05.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.