How far is Petersburg, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Petersburg, IL to Joliet, IL is about 166.5 miles (267.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.5 miles (224.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 25m 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
166.46 mi
03h 12m
Flight
139.5 mi
224.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Petersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
139.5 mi
Kilometers
224.51 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
166.46 mi
Kilometers
267.89 km
Drive Time
03h 12m

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 03h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Sun, Apr 19, 10:13 AM CDT
Return by in Petersburg
Sun, Apr 19, 1:25 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Petersburg
2026-04-19T07:00
Arrive Joliet
Sun, Apr 19, 10:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:13 AM to 11:13 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Petersburg
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Towanda
IL

Township in McLean County, Illinois

From Petersburg
83.2 mi
01h 36m
To Joliet
83.3 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
53°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 6th Street

    1532 ft · 49 sec · South 6th Street

  2. 2

    Continue on South 6th Street

    734 ft · 21 sec · South 6th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Old Salem Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Old Salem Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Athens Blacktop Road

    6.6 mi · 10 min · Athens Blacktop Road

  5. 5

    Continue on North Main Street

    1186 ft · 46 sec · North Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto East Hargrave Street

    2666 ft · 2 min · East Hargrave Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Springfield Road

    1789 ft · 60 sec · Springfield Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto County Road 11 N

    3.6 mi · 6 min · County Road 11 N

  10. 10

    Continue on Dinius Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Dinius Road

  11. 11

    Continue on County Highway 2

    1748 ft · 34 sec · County Highway 2

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left

    2341 ft · 57 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    17.2 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    93.9 mi · 1 hr 41 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Indiana

    1.2 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Center Street

    1.3 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Continue on South Center Street

    1401 ft · 38 sec · South Center Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Hickory Street

    1164 ft · 36 sec · Hickory Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Street

    1572 ft · 52 sec · West Jefferson Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Joliet Street

    53 m · 7 sec · Joliet Street

  23. 23

    Turn right

    83 m · 20 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Petersburg 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
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
123 mi · 74%
County Highway 2
17.9 mi · 11%
Athens Blacktop Road
6.63 mi · 4%
I 80 East
5.8 mi · 3%
County Road 11 N
3.57 mi · 2%
Dinius Road
2.85 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

93.9 mi · 01h 41m

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
03h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27 mi
139.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Towanda
01h 36m from Petersburg
Leave By
10:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Petersburg 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 Petersburg to Joliet?

The road trip is about 166.5 miles (267.9 km) and usually takes 03h 12m 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?

Towanda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.2 miles from Petersburg and 83.3 miles from Joliet.

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

The direct path is about 139.5 miles (224.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 27 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 10:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.14 one way or $44.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Towanda

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Towanda and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 9.2 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 11.1 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 11.1 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Towanda.

RAIL

Uptown Station

9 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

41 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Lincoln

61 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

68 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Petersburg and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 139.5 mi (224.51 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Petersburg

City in Menard County, Illinois

Population2,190
Coordinates40.0117200, -89.8481700
Altitude156
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: Petersburg (-89.84817, 40.01172)
End: Joliet (-88.0834, 41.52519)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 268 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.87 gal
22.23 L · about $22.14
Round trip
$44.27
11.74 gal · 44.46 L
Estimated CO2
52.2 kg one way
Round trip: 104.3 kg / 230 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.14 $44.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.97 $49.93
Premium $4.65 $27.32 $54.64
Diesel $5.30 $31.13 $62.27

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Petersburg and Joliet. The current time is 07:00:16.

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.