How far is Joliet, IL from Murphysboro, IL?

The driving distance from Joliet, IL to Murphysboro, IL is about 312.9 miles (503.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 268.2 miles (431.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
312.86 mi
06h 01m
Flight
268.23 mi
431.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Joliet.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
268.23 mi
Kilometers
431.67 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
312.86 mi
Kilometers
503.5 km
Drive Time
06h 01m

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 06h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Murphysboro
Thu, Apr 23, 4:24 AM CDT
Return by in Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 10:26 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joliet
2026-04-22T22:22
Arrive Murphysboro
Thu, Apr 23, 4:24 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:02 PM to 1:32 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Joliet
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Mattoon
IL

City in Illinois

From Joliet
156.5 mi
03h 00m
To Murphysboro
156.3 mi
03h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    34 m · 10 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Ottawa Street

    1397 ft · 44 sec · Ottawa Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Ottawa Street

    758 ft · 22 sec · Ottawa Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Chicago Street

    1 mi · 3 min · Chicago Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Doris Avenue

    686 ft · 15 sec · Doris Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Gardner Street

    1482 ft · 36 sec · Gardner Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Manhattan Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Manhattan Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Manhattan Road

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Manhattan Road

  9. 9

    Continue on West North Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · West North Street

  10. 10

    Continue on South State Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · South State Street

  11. 11

    Continue on US Route 52

    1.2 mi · 2 min · US Route 52

  12. 12

    Continue on South Cedar Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · South Cedar Road

  13. 13

    Continue on West Arsenal Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · West Arsenal Road

  14. 14

    Continue on West Joliet Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Joliet Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto South La Grange Road

    10.1 mi · 14 min · South La Grange Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway

    2017 ft · 40 sec · Bourbonnais Parkway

  17. 17

    Take the ramp slight right toward I-57 South: Kankakee

    2192 ft · 54 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    160.5 mi · 2 hr 52 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    32.7 mi · 35 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Johnston City, Herrin

    1506 ft · 39 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Herrin Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Herrin Road

  23. 23

    Continue on East Herrin Street

    3.1 mi · 5 min · East Herrin Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Herrin Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Herrin Road

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cambria Road

    11 m · 1 sec · Cambria Road

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Cambria Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Cambria Road

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Russell Street

    11.3 mi · 16 min · Russell Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto North 2nd Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · North 2nd Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Walnut Street

    2911 ft · 1 min · Walnut Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto North 11th Street

    20 m · 3 sec · North 11th Street

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 11th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
31 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-57 South
161 mi · 51%
I 57 South
65.7 mi · 21%
Ken Gray Expressway
32.7 mi · 10%
Russell Street
11.3 mi · 4%
South La Grange Road
10.1 mi · 3%
Herrin Road
6.59 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I-57 South

Merge slight left

161 mi · 02h 52m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 01m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.7 mi
268.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mattoon
03h 00m from Joliet
Leave By
11:56 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Joliet and Sunny near Murphysboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 312.9 miles (503.5 km) and usually takes 06h 01m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mattoon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.5 miles from Joliet and 156.3 miles from Murphysboro.

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

The direct path is about 268.2 miles (431.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.7 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.63 one way or $83.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Mattoon

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

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

RAIL

Mattoon station

1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

43 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

71 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

94 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Joliet and Murphysboro. Straight-line distance: 268.23 mi (431.67 km).

Joliet

#1 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Murphysboro

#2 Murphysboro

Town in Illinois

Population7,384
Coordinates37.7645000, -89.3350900
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Start: Joliet (-88.0834, 41.52519)
End: Murphysboro (-89.33509, 37.7645)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 504 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.04 gal
41.79 L · about $41.63
Round trip
$83.26
22.08 gal · 83.58 L
Estimated CO2
98.1 kg one way
Round trip: 196.2 kg / 433 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.63 $83.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.95 $93.91
Premium $4.65 $51.38 $102.76
Diesel $5.30 $58.56 $117.11

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 Joliet and Murphysboro. The current time is 22:22:46.

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.