How far is Vernon Hills, IL from Joliet, IL?

The driving distance from Vernon Hills, IL to Joliet, IL is about 55.6 miles (89.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.3 miles (77.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 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
55.56 mi
01h 10m
Flight
48.27 mi
77.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Vernon Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.27 mi
Kilometers
77.68 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.56 mi
Kilometers
89.42 km
Drive Time
01h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joliet
Sun, Apr 19, 7:08 AM CDT
Return by in Vernon Hills
Sun, Apr 19, 8:18 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Vernon Hills
2026-04-19T05:58
Arrive Joliet
Sun, Apr 19, 7:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:10 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Vernon Hills
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
Glen Ellyn
IL

Town in DuPage County, Illinois, USA

From Vernon Hills
29.5 mi
00h 35m
To Joliet
26 mi
00h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
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 Vernon Hills and Joliet.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Vernon Hills and Joliet.

  1. 1

    Start on Oakwood Road

    11 m · 4 sec · Oakwood Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Westmoreland Drive

    1.2 km · 3 min · Westmoreland Drive

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto IL RT 83

    1.2 km · 1 min · IL RT 83

  4. 4

    Continue on State Highway 83

    2.3 mi · 4 min · State Highway 83

  5. 5

    Continue on McHenry Road

    1486 ft · 30 sec · McHenry Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Arlington Heights Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Arlington Heights Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Lake Cook Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Lake Cook Road

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    6.9 mi · 9 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road

    7 mi · 9 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

    31.4 mi · 37 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Southwest Highway

    2125 ft · 52 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Maple Road

    5.7 mi · 11 min · Maple Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Ottawa Street

    2196 ft · 1 min · North Ottawa Street

  14. 14

    Turn right

    34 m · 8 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Vernon Hills 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
15 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 355 South Tollway
31.4 mi · 57%
Lake Cook Road
8.54 mi · 15%
I 290 East
7 mi · 13%
Maple Road
5.7 mi · 10%
State Highway 83
2.32 mi · 4%
Arlington Heights Road
1.4 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 355 South Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

31.4 mi · 00h 37m

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 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.3 mi
48.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glen Ellyn
00h 35m from Vernon Hills
Leave By
4:10 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers leaving Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills to Joliet?

The road trip is about 55.6 miles (89.4 km) and usually takes 01h 10m 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?

Glen Ellyn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.5 miles from Vernon Hills and 26 miles from Joliet.

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

The direct path is about 48.3 miles (77.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:10 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.39 one way or $14.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers around Vernon Hills and Mostly Sunny near Joliet.

Stop Ideas Near Glen Ellyn

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

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

RAIL

Naperville

13 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

18 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

23 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

31 mi away
1116 Depot St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Vernon Hills and Joliet. Straight-line distance: 48.27 mi (77.68 km).

Vernon Hills

#1 Vernon Hills

City in United States of America

Population26,425
Coordinates42.2194700, -87.9795200
Altitude224
CountryUnited States
Joliet

#2 Joliet

The second most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population85,583
Coordinates41.5251900, -88.0834000
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: Oakwood Road (-87.979511, 42.219456)
End: (-88.083409, 41.525419)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 89 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.96 gal
7.42 L · about $7.39
Round trip
$14.78
3.92 gal · 14.84 L
Estimated CO2
17.4 kg one way
Round trip: 34.8 kg / 77 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.39 $14.78
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.34 $16.67
Premium $4.65 $9.12 $18.24
Diesel $5.30 $10.40 $20.79

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 Vernon Hills and Joliet. The current time is 05:58:07.

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.