The 8 Best Day Trips from Joliet
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.
There are 8 good day trips from Joliet, United States, led by Chicago, Naperville, Kenosha. The closest is Bolingbrook, about 30 min by car, and 3 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 8 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Joliet
- 1
Chicago, United States
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car51 km north-east of JolietKnown for 360 Chicago.
- 2
Naperville, United States
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car29 km north of Joliet - 3
Kenosha, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car120 km north of Joliet - 4
Waukegan, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km north of Joliet - 5
Evanston, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car66 km north-east of Joliet - 6
Schaumburg, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car57 km north of Joliet - 7
Bolingbrook, United States
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car19 km north of Joliet - 8
Palatine, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car65 km north of Joliet
A sample day: Joliet to Chicago
- 08:30Leave Joliet
- 09:30Arrive in Chicago (1 hr drive)
- 09:45360 Chicago
- 11:45Lunch
- 13:00Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Chicago
- 15:30Head back to Joliet
- 16:30Home in Joliet
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Joliet?
- The best day trips from Joliet are Chicago, Naperville, Kenosha, Waukegan, Evanston. The closest is Bolingbrook, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Joliet?
- Bolingbrook is the closest, 19 km north of Joliet, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Joliet?
- 3 places are within about an hour's drive of Joliet: Bolingbrook (30 min), Naperville (45 min), Chicago (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Joliet for a day out?
- Chicago is the largest city in day-trip range, 51 km north-east of Joliet and about 1 hr by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Joliet?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Kenosha at 120 km, around 1 hr 55 min by car.
Ready to plan your Joliet trip?
Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.