How far is Joliet, IL from Watseka, IL?

The driving distance from Joliet, IL to Watseka, IL is about 66.9 miles (107.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 54.8 miles (88.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
66.91 mi
01h 40m
Flight
54.81 mi
88.21 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Joliet.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
54.81 mi
Kilometers
88.21 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
66.91 mi
Kilometers
107.68 km
Drive Time
01h 40m

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 01h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Watseka
Thu, Apr 23, 6:16 AM CDT
Return by in Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 7:56 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joliet
2026-04-23T04:36
Arrive Watseka
Thu, Apr 23, 6:16 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:40 AM to 11:40 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:10 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Joliet
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Bradley
IL

Village in Illinois, United States

From Joliet
33.5 mi
00h 50m
To Watseka
33.4 mi
00h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    6.1 mi · 7 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 17: Kankakee, Momence

    1374 ft · 36 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto East Court Street

    5.9 mi · 9 min · East Court Street

  21. 21

    Continue on South State Route 1

    6.7 mi · 10 min · South State Route 1

  22. 22

    Continue on North Dixie Highway

    1808 ft · 33 sec · North Dixie Highway

  23. 23

    Turn right onto E 7000S Road

    2797 ft · 47 sec · E 7000S Road

  24. 24

    Continue on S 7000E Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · S 7000E Road

  25. 25

    Continue on North 2100 E Road

    14.8 mi · 22 min · North 2100 E Road

  26. 26

    Continue on North 2100 East Road

    1 mi · 2 min · North 2100 East Road

  27. 27

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West Walnut Street

    3119 ft · 2 min · West Walnut Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Walnut Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
28 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North 2100 E Road
14.8 mi · 22%
South La Grange Road
10.1 mi · 15%
South State Route 1
6.72 mi · 10%
I-57 South
6.53 mi · 10%
East Court Street
5.9 mi · 9%
Manhattan Road
5.28 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

North 2100 E Road

Continue on North 2100 E Road

14.8 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 40m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.1 mi
54.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bradley
00h 50m from Joliet
Leave By
3:10 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Joliet and Mostly Sunny near Watseka.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 66.9 miles (107.7 km) and usually takes 01h 40m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bradley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 33.5 miles from Joliet and 33.4 miles from Watseka.

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

The direct path is about 54.8 miles (88.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:10 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.90 one way or $17.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 21 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Joliet and Mostly Sunny near Watseka.

Stop Ideas Near Bradley

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

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

RAIL

Kankakee

3 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Gilman

44 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

46 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Dwight station

48 mi away
119 West Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Joliet and Watseka. Straight-line distance: 54.81 mi (88.21 km).

Joliet

#1 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

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

#2 Watseka

City in and county seat of Iroquois County, Illinois, United States

Population4,694
Coordinates40.7761500, -87.7364200
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Start: Joliet (-88.0834, 41.52519)
End: Watseka (-87.73642, 40.77615)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 108 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.36 gal
8.94 L · about $8.90
Round trip
$17.80
4.72 gal · 17.88 L
Estimated CO2
21 kg one way
Round trip: 41.9 kg / 92 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $8.90 $17.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.04 $20.07
Premium $4.65 $10.98 $21.97
Diesel $5.30 $12.52 $25.03

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 Watseka. The current time is 04:36:06.

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.