How far is Chester, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Chester, IL to Joliet, IL is about 309.8 miles (498.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 266.1 miles (428.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 51m 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
309.73 mi
04h 55m
Flight
266.08 mi
428.21 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
266.08 mi
Kilometers
428.21 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
309.73 mi
Kilometers
498.46 km
Drive Time
04h 55m

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 04h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 2:53 AM CDT
Return by in Chester
Thu, Apr 23, 7:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chester
2026-04-22T21:57
Arrive Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 2:53 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chester
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
Sherman
IL

Village in Illinois, USA

From Chester
151.5 mi
02h 27m
To Joliet
158.2 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph SW
Destination
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Stacey Street

    38 m · 11 sec · East Stacey Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto State Street

    118 m · 10 sec · State Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Holmes Street

    2470 ft · 32 sec · East Holmes Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Lehmen Drive

    7.8 mi · 9 min · Lehmen Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on South State Street

    17.7 mi · 23 min · South State Street

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    20.1 mi · 30 min

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street

    54 m · 4 sec · North Illinois Street

  8. 8

    Exit the rotary onto North Illinois Street

    9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street

  9. 9

    Continue on South Morrison Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Vandalia Street

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East

    2235 ft · 55 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

    107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  15. 15

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

    93.9 mi · 1 hr 41 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Indiana

    1.2 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Center Street

    1.3 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Continue on South Center Street

    1401 ft · 38 sec · South Center Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Hickory Street

    1164 ft · 36 sec · Hickory Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Street

    1572 ft · 52 sec · West Jefferson Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Joliet Street

    53 m · 7 sec · Joliet Street

  23. 23

    Turn right

    83 m · 20 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
235 mi · 76%
South State Street
37.9 mi · 12%
North Illinois Street
9.78 mi · 3%
Lehmen Drive
7.85 mi · 3%
I 80 East
5.8 mi · 2%
Vandalia Street
2.76 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

108 mi · 01h 57m

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
04h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.7 mi
266.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sherman
02h 27m from Chester
Leave By
7:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chester and Sunny near Joliet.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 309.8 miles (498.5 km) and usually takes 04h 55m 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?

Sherman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.5 miles from Chester and 158.2 miles from Joliet.

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

The direct path is about 266.1 miles (428.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.7 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 7:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.22 one way or $82.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chester and Sunny near Joliet.

Stop Ideas Near Sherman

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Sherman, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Springfield station

11 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Lincoln

35 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Carlinville

73 mi away
128 Alton Rd.
RAIL

Uptown Station

86 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chester and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 266.08 mi (428.21 km).

Chester

#1 Chester

City in Illinois

Population8,145
Coordinates37.9136600, -89.8220500
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: East Stacey Street (-89.822149, 37.913582)
End: (-88.083409, 41.525419)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 498 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.93 gal
41.37 L · about $41.22
Round trip
$82.43
21.86 gal · 82.74 L
Estimated CO2
97.1 kg one way
Round trip: 194.3 kg / 428 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.22 $82.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.49 $92.97
Premium $4.65 $50.87 $101.74
Diesel $5.30 $57.97 $115.95

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Chester and Joliet. The current time is 21:57:41.

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.