How far is Dale, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Dale, IL to Joliet, IL is about 293.1 miles (471.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244.9 miles (394.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 24m 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
293.13 mi
05h 42m
Flight
244.87 mi
394.08 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
244.87 mi
Kilometers
394.08 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
293.13 mi
Kilometers
471.74 km
Drive Time
05h 42m

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 05h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Sat, Apr 18, 10:08 AM CDT
Return by in Dale
Sat, Apr 18, 3:50 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dale
2026-04-18T04:26
Arrive Joliet
Sat, Apr 18, 10:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:42 AM to 1:42 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
5:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dale
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
Arcola
IL

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

From Dale
146.6 mi
02h 51m
To Joliet
146.5 mi
02h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 16 mph WSW
Destination
68°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on County Road 1165 East

    6.8 mi · 10 min · County Road 1165 East

  2. 2

    Continue on South Jackson Street

    3160 ft · 59 sec · South Jackson Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Market Street

    15.4 mi · 23 min · Market Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    2277 ft · 46 sec · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on North Brehm Lane

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Brehm Lane

  6. 6

    Continue on County Highway 17

    2187 ft · 49 sec · County Highway 17

  7. 7

    Turn left

    2679 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    14.4 mi · 16 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    154.9 mi · 2 hr 46 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Bourbonnais Parkway

    2050 ft · 42 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway

    3273 ft · 1 min · Bourbonnais Parkway

  13. 13

    Turn right

    10.1 mi · 14 min

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Joliet Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Joliet Road

  15. 15

    Continue on West Arsenal Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · West Arsenal Road

  16. 16

    Continue on West Joliet Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · West Joliet Road

  17. 17

    Continue on US Route 52

    1.2 mi · 2 min · US Route 52

  18. 18

    Continue on South State Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · South State Street

  19. 19

    Continue on West North Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · West North Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Manhattan Road

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Manhattan Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Manhattan Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Manhattan Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Gardner Street

    1482 ft · 43 sec · Gardner Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Doris Avenue

    686 ft · 16 sec · Doris Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto South Chicago Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · South Chicago Street

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Chicago Street

    83 m · 13 sec · Chicago Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto West Washington Street

    771 ft · 25 sec · West Washington Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Joliet Street

    158 m · 18 sec · Joliet Street

  28. 28

    Turn right

    83 m · 20 sec

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dale 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
29 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
155 mi · 53%
Ken Gray Expressway
67.5 mi · 23%
Market Street
15.4 mi · 5%
County Highway 17
14.8 mi · 5%
County Road 1165 East
6.78 mi · 2%
Manhattan Road
5.29 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

155 mi · 02h 46m

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
05h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.2 mi
244.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
02h 51m from Dale
Leave By
5:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Dale and Showers And Thunderstorms near Joliet.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 293.1 miles (471.7 km) and usually takes 05h 42m 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?

Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.6 miles from Dale and 146.5 miles from Joliet.

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

The direct path is about 244.9 miles (394.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.2 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 5:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.99 one way or $77.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Dale and Showers And Thunderstorms near Joliet.

Stop Ideas Near Arcola

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Arcola, 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 Arcola.

RAIL

Mattoon station

23 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

48 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

66 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

71 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dale and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 244.87 mi (394.08 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Dale

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population1,205
Coordinates37.9950500, -88.4917200
Altitude122
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: Dale (-88.49172, 37.99505)
End: Joliet (-88.0834, 41.52519)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 472 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.34 gal
39.15 L · about $38.99
Round trip
$77.98
20.68 gal · 78.3 L
Estimated CO2
91.9 kg one way
Round trip: 183.8 kg / 405 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.99 $77.98
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.98 $87.95
Premium $4.65 $48.12 $96.24
Diesel $5.30 $54.84 $109.69

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Dale and Joliet. The current time is 04:26:39.

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.