How far is Red Bud, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Red Bud, IL to Joliet, IL is about 284.7 miles (458.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 250.4 miles (402.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 55m 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
284.65 mi
04h 27m
Flight
250.34 mi
402.89 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Red Bud.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
250.34 mi
Kilometers
402.89 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
284.65 mi
Kilometers
458.1 km
Drive Time
04h 27m

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 04h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 2:02 AM CDT
Return by in Red Bud
Thu, Apr 23, 6:30 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Red Bud
2026-04-22T21:34
Arrive Joliet
Thu, Apr 23, 2:02 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:28 AM to 12:28 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:04 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Red Bud
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Broadwell
IL

Township in Logan County, Illinois

From Red Bud
139 mi
02h 13m
To Joliet
145.6 mi
02h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 mph SW
Destination
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Red Bud and Joliet.

  1. 1

    Start on West Market Street

    17 m · 8 sec · West Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    6.4 mi · 10 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on N Main St

    810 ft · 14 sec · N Main St

  4. 4

    Continue on North Main Street

    1163 ft · 20 sec · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on State Route 159

    6.1 mi · 9 min · State Route 159

  6. 6

    Continue on South Main Street

    8.3 mi · 13 min · South Main Street

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street

    54 m · 4 sec · North Illinois Street

  8. 8

    Exit the rotary onto North Illinois Street

    9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street

  9. 9

    Continue on South Morrison Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Vandalia Street

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East

    2235 ft · 55 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

    107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 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 Red Bud 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
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
235 mi · 83%
North Illinois Street
9.78 mi · 3%
South Main Street
8.3 mi · 3%
North Main Street
6.62 mi · 2%
State Route 159
6.14 mi · 2%
I 80 East
5.8 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

108 mi · 01h 57m

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
04h 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.3 mi
250.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Broadwell
02h 13m from Red Bud
Leave By
8:04 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Red Bud and Sunny near Joliet.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Red Bud to Joliet?

The road trip is about 284.7 miles (458.1 km) and usually takes 04h 27m 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?

Broadwell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139 miles from Red Bud and 145.6 miles from Joliet.

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

The direct path is about 250.4 miles (402.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.3 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 8:04 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.86 one way or $75.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Red Bud and Sunny near Joliet.

Stop Ideas Near Broadwell

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

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

RAIL

Lincoln

11 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Springfield station

35 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

63 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

70 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Red Bud and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 250.34 mi (402.89 km).

Red Bud

#1 Red Bud

City in Randolph County, Illinois, United States

Population3,442
Coordinates38.2117200, -89.9942700
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: West Market Street (-89.99427, 38.211728)
End: (-88.083409, 41.525419)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 458 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.04 gal
38.02 L · about $37.86
Round trip
$75.72
20.08 gal · 76.04 L
Estimated CO2
89.2 kg one way
Round trip: 178.5 kg / 394 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $37.86 $75.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $42.70 $85.40
Premium $4.65 $46.73 $93.45
Diesel $5.30 $53.25 $106.50

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 Red Bud and Joliet. The current time is 21:34:20.

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.