How far is Ottawa, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Ottawa, IL to Joliet, IL is about 44.7 miles (71.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 41.3 miles (66.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 36m 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
44.69 mi
00h 48m
Flight
41.23 mi
66.36 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ottawa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
41.23 mi
Kilometers
66.36 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
44.69 mi
Kilometers
71.92 km
Drive Time
00h 48m

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 00h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 1:05 AM CDT
Return by in Ottawa
Thu, Apr 23, 1:54 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ottawa
2026-04-23T00:17
Arrive Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 1:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:48 AM to 10:48 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:54 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ottawa
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
Morris
IL

City in Illinois

From Ottawa
22.3 mi
00h 24m
To Joliet
22.4 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph S
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on La Salle Street

    31 m · 5 sec · La Salle Street

  2. 2

    Turn slight left onto Lincoln Place

    137 m · 25 sec · Lincoln Place

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Columbus Street

    68 m · 11 sec · Columbus Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight left onto Green Street

    2119 ft · 42 sec · Green Street

  6. 6

    Continue on North 2753rd Road

    3277 ft · 1 min · North 2753rd Road

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1240 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway

    2414 ft · 43 sec · Grand Army of the Republic Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Illinois Route 71

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Illinois Route 71

  10. 10

    Take the ramp right toward I 80 East: Joliet

    1434 ft · 35 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    38.3 mi · 42 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Center Street

    1.3 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Continue on South Center Street

    1401 ft · 38 sec · South Center Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Hickory Street

    1164 ft · 36 sec · Hickory Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Street

    1572 ft · 52 sec · West Jefferson Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Joliet Street

    53 m · 7 sec · Joliet Street

  17. 17

    Turn right

    83 m · 20 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ottawa 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
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
40.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
38.6 mi · 86%
Illinois Route 71
1.85 mi · 4%
Center Street
0.8 mi · 2%
East Main Street
0.75 mi · 2%
North 2753rd Road
0.62 mi · 1%
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.46 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

38.3 mi · 00h 42m

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
00h 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.4 mi
41.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Morris
00h 24m from Ottawa
Leave By
4:54 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ottawa and Mostly Sunny near Joliet.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 44.7 miles (71.9 km) and usually takes 00h 48m 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?

Morris is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.3 miles from Ottawa and 22.4 miles from Joliet.

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

The direct path is about 41.3 miles (66.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.4 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 4:54 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.96 one way or $11.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Morris

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

29 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

34 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Plano

35 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Naperville

52 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ottawa and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 41.23 mi (66.36 km).

Ottawa

#1 Ottawa

City in Illinois, United States

Population18,097
Coordinates41.3455900, -88.8425800
Altitude147
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: La Salle Street (-88.84264, 41.34559)
End: (-88.083409, 41.525419)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 72 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.58 gal
5.97 L · about $5.96
Round trip
$11.92
3.16 gal · 11.94 L
Estimated CO2
14 kg one way
Round trip: 28.1 kg / 62 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.96 $11.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.72 $13.44
Premium $4.65 $7.35 $14.71
Diesel $5.30 $8.38 $16.76

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 Ottawa and Joliet. The current time is 00:17:26.

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.