How far is Lake of the Woods, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Lake of the Woods, IL to Joliet, IL is about 118.2 miles (190.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 92.3 miles (148.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 49m 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
118.19 mi
02h 24m
Flight
92.33 mi
148.59 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake of the Woods.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
92.33 mi
Kilometers
148.59 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
118.19 mi
Kilometers
190.21 km
Drive Time
02h 24m

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 02h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Fri, Apr 17, 11:04 PM CDT
Return by in Lake of the Woods
Sat, Apr 18, 1:29 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake of the Woods
2026-04-17T20:39
Arrive Joliet
Fri, Apr 17, 11:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake of the Woods
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
Danforth
IL

Township in Iroquois County, Illinois

From Lake of the Woods
59.1 mi
01h 12m
To Joliet
59.1 mi
01h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 18 mph S
Destination
80°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake of the Woods and Joliet.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake of the Woods and Joliet.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    42 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    92 m · 24 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Lake of the Woods Road

    138 m · 12 sec · North Lake of the Woods Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto County Road 50

    1318 ft · 1 min · County Road 50

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Prairieview Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North Prairieview Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 74 East: Champaign

    1566 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    4.3 mi · 5 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis

    1869 ft · 35 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    1.1 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    80.5 mi · 1 hr 26 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 Lake of the Woods 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
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
81.2 mi · 69%
Manhattan Road
5.29 mi · 4%
I 74 East
4.63 mi · 4%
West Joliet Road
4.38 mi · 4%
West North Street
2.25 mi · 2%
South State Street
1.92 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Merge slight left

80.5 mi · 01h 26m

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
02h 24m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.9 mi
92.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Danforth
01h 12m from Lake of the Woods
Leave By
1:40 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lake of the Woods and Partly Sunny near Joliet.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake of the Woods to Joliet?

The road trip is about 118.2 miles (190.2 km) and usually takes 02h 24m 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?

Danforth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 59.1 miles from Lake of the Woods and 59.1 miles from Joliet.

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

The direct path is about 92.3 miles (148.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.9 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 1:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.73 one way or $31.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 37.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lake of the Woods and Partly Sunny near Joliet.

Stop Ideas Near Danforth

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

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

RAIL

Gilman

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

Kankakee

35 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Dwight station

48 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

56 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake of the Woods and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 92.33 mi (148.59 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Lake of the Woods

Census designated place in Illinois, United States

Population2,912
Coordinates40.2064200, -88.3686700
Altitude228
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake of the Woods (-88.36867, 40.20642)
End: Joliet (-88.0834, 41.52519)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 190 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.17 gal
15.79 L · about $15.73
Round trip
$31.45
8.34 gal · 31.58 L
Estimated CO2
37.1 kg one way
Round trip: 74.1 kg / 163 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $15.73 $31.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.74 $35.47
Premium $4.65 $19.41 $38.81
Diesel $5.30 $22.12 $44.24

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 Lake of the Woods and Joliet. The current time is 20:39:58.

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.