Joliet: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Joliet is a city of 147,861 people in United States (Illinois), 167 m (548 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), 40 km (25 mi) from the centre. It has 2 railway stations on record, including Joliet Union Station.
Key facts
Daylight in Joliet runs from about 9 h 13 min a day in late December to 15 h 14 min in late June (computed for 41.53° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Joliet is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), 40 km (25 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,522 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, 53 km), Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY, 57 km).
Flights to Joliet: every airport, routes and times
By rail: stations on record include Joliet Union Station, Joliet. Trains to Joliet
Buses to Joliet · Driving and car hire
What people come for
| Sight | Visitors a year | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Joliet Public Library | 371,781 | 2017 |
The busiest is Joliet Public Library at 371,781 visitors in 2017. Figures are the latest each site has published, so they are not all for the same year.
Tours, tickets and day trips from Joliet
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Chicago, 51 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Indianapolis, 254 km — flights · trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Milwaukee, 169 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Madison, 203 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- St. Louis, 369 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Toledo, 377 km
- Fort Wayne, 251 km — trains · buses · tours
- Aurora, 33 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Grand Rapids, 255 km — trains
- Rockford, 118 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Joliet?
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), 40 km (25 mi) from the centre, plus 2 other airports with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Joliet?
About 147,861 people live in Joliet, across 169 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Joliet in?
America/Chicago, currently UTC-5.
What currency is used in Joliet?
The Dollar (USD). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Joliet?
Chicago (51 km), Indianapolis (254 km), Milwaukee (169 km), Madison (203 km), St. Louis (369 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.