Overview
Joliet is a city in the Chicagoland region of Illinois, a state in the Midwest of the United States of America. It is the largest city and county seat of Will County.
1 sights · 7 things to do · 3 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Joliet
Joliet Prison
The limestone Illinois State Penitentiary, opened in 1858 and closed in 2002, was used as a filming location for numerous TV shows and movies, including The Blues Brothers and Prison Break. A municipal park was opened on…
Chicagoland Speedway
The speedway opened in the summer of 2001 and is the annual host of the LifeLock.com 400, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, and the Dollar General 300, a NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The speedway also plays host to an I…
Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel
It's along the Des Plaines River in downtown Joliet. Harrah´s Joliet offers slots, table games and restaurants.
Hollywood Casino & Hotel Joliet
In case Harrah's doesn't do it, here more gaming fun awaits.
Rialto Square Theater
The historic theater opened in May 1926 and is a stunning reflection of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine architecture. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Rialto has been called one of the ten most beautif…
Joliet Slammers Baseball
Silver Cross Field, One Mayor Art Schultz Dr. Silver Cross Field in downtown Joliet began hosting minor league baseball in 2002.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Chicago)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 27 mi away (major hub). Directions
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago — 34 mi away (major hub). Directions
Joliet can be accessed from I-80 and I-55.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel, Rialto Square Theater
- Lunch Merichka's
- Afternoon Joliet Prison, Joliet Slammers Baseball
- Dinner Heroes West Sports Grill
- Evening Jameson's Pub
Day 2
- Morning Chicagoland Speedway, Hollywood Casino & Hotel Joliet
- Lunch White Fence Farm
- Afternoon Joliet Park District, Bicycling
- Evening Chicago St. Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Joliet is a blue collar city which has built several tourist attractions. Notably, Chicagoland Speedway hosts NASCAR races during the summer, and there are two riverboat casinos on the river which bisects the city. Sherb Noble opened the first Dairy Queen here on June 22, 1940; the landmark 501 N. Chicago Street building is now a church. Joliet's prison, now closed, appears in the film Blues Brothers. The city was part of Route 66 from 1926 until 1940, with the road demoted to "66 alternate" locally when the mainline was redirected westward through Plainfield. A freeway (now I-55) bypassed both roads in 1957.
Get in
Joliet can be accessed from I-80 and I-55.
There are long distance trains and commuter rail serving Joliet. Amtrak runs four daily services in each direction between Chicago and St. Louis via its Lincoln Service. Additionally, the Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio also calls here. From Chicago, Metra also runs up to four daily commuter trains per day via its Heritage Corridor Line. Joliet station is located at 50 E Jefferson St.
Get around
Driving is the primary means of transportation in Joliet. Joliet is also served by Pace bus lines.
See
See Joliet Prison (Joliet Correctional Center)
The limestone Illinois State Penitentiary, opened in 1858 and closed in 2002, was used as a filming location for numerous TV shows and movies, including The Blues Brothers and Prison Break. A municipal park was opened on the grounds in 2009. The city leased the property from the state at the end of 2017 in the hope that damaged structures could be stabilised; the Joliet Area Historical Museum (204 Ottawa St, +1 815 723-5201) plans to introduce a $20, ninety-minute bus tour of the prison in mid-August 2018.
Do
Do Chicagoland Speedway
The speedway opened in the summer of 2001 and is the annual host of the LifeLock.com 400, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, and the Dollar General 300, a NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The speedway also plays host to an Indy Racing Northern Lights (IRL) race and an ARCA Re/Max Series race every September.
Do Rialto Square Theater
The historic theater opened in May 1926 and is a stunning reflection of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine architecture. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Rialto has been called one of the ten most beautiful theaters in the nation. Public and private tours are available as well as shows and banquets.
Do Bicycling
There are several miles of bike trails which wind through Joliet. The Rock Run and Joliet Junction Trails are roughly North/South routes that begin at the Theodore Marsh in Crest Hill, IL and have southern terminuses on the I&M Canal State Trail. These three paths can be used as a 16 mile loop through Western Joliet. The I&M Canal State Trail stretches ~60 miles to Peru, Illinois, for longer bike rides.
Buy
Eat
Eat Heroes West Sports Grill
Sports bar and grill near I-80 and Houbolt Rd.
Eat White Fence Farm
White Fence Farm in Romeoville, Illinois, specializes in "baked then fried" chicken that is served with several sides and a choice of potato. In addition to the 1,100 seat restaurant in Romeoville there are carryout locations in several nearby towns including Joliet.
Eat Merichka's
Merichka's is a Crest Hill institution. Their trademark sandwich is a beef poorboy smothered in garlic butter.
Drink
Drink Joliet Bakery Deli & Liquors (formerly The Drunken Donut)
Polish bakery and bar!
Sleep
Go next
Chicago is easily accessible from Joliet via I-55 or Metra.
The Metra Rock Island District Line stops at U.S. Cellular Field for White Sox baseball games in Chicago
Nearby
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My experience
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