Joliet has two Metra lines into downtown Chicago, Pace express buses from nearby park-and-rides, and direct interstate access. This guide lists the scheduled times and fares as published by the transit agencies, so you can compare options before choosing where to rent. Schedules change, and Metra posts construction notices that can add delays, so check the agencies' sites before you rely on a specific train.
Metra from Joliet Gateway Center
Both Metra lines start at Joliet Gateway Center, 90 E. Jefferson Street. The city lists station hours of 4:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
Rock Island: Joliet to LaSalle Street Station
The figures below come from Metra's schedule search for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, checked on November 1, 2026.
- Inbound (Joliet to LaSalle Street): 22 scheduled weekday trains, the first leaving Joliet at 4:20 a.m. and the last at 10:25 p.m.
- Fastest scheduled trips: the 6:30, 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. departures, each scheduled at 60 minutes.
- Most trains: most daytime trains are scheduled at about 71 minutes. Some evening trains are scheduled at 85 minutes.
- Outbound (LaSalle Street to Joliet): 23 scheduled weekday trains. The 3:55, 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. departures were the fastest, at 61 minutes each; most others were scheduled at 71 to 73 minutes.
On that date Metra's schedule page flagged several inbound Rock Island trains as possibly delayed up to 20 minutes by scheduled maintenance, and posted a notice of no Rock Island service on November 14-15, 2026. Check Metra's service alerts before you travel.
Rock Island stops between Joliet and downtown include New Lenox, Mokena, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Blue Island and a series of stations within Chicago, ending at LaSalle Street Station.
Heritage Corridor: Joliet to Chicago Union Station
From Metra's schedule search for the same weekday:
| Direction | Departs | Arrives | Scheduled time |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Union Station | 5:45 a.m. | 6:52 a.m. | 67 min |
| To Union Station | 6:25 a.m. | 7:32 a.m. | 67 min |
| To Union Station | 7:05 a.m. | 8:12 a.m. | 67 min |
| To Joliet | 3:50 p.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 66 min |
| To Joliet | 4:50 p.m. | 5:56 p.m. | 66 min |
| To Joliet | 5:30 p.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 66 min |
Metra's trip planner showed no Heritage Corridor trips on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The line stops at Lockport, Romeoville, Lemont, Willow Springs and Summit before Union Station.
Metra fares from Joliet
Joliet is in Metra fare Zone 4; downtown Chicago stations are Zone 1. These are the full fares for a Zone 1-to-4 trip from Metra's fare table as of November 1, 2026:
| Ticket | Full fare | Reduced fare |
|---|---|---|
| One-way | $6.75 | $3.25 |
| Day Pass | $13.50 | $6.50 |
| Day Pass 5-Pack (Ventra app only) | $64.25 | $32.00 |
| Monthly Pass | $135.00 | $67.50 |
| Saturday, Sunday or Holiday Day Pass | $7.00 | $7.00 |
| Weekend Pass (Ventra app only) | $10.00 | $10.00 |
According to Metra, a Monthly Pass covers unlimited rides between the selected zones on weekdays and systemwide on weekends. Monthly Pass holders can add a $30 Regional Connect Pass in the Ventra app for unlimited CTA and Pace rides that month. Reduced fares are available to eligible seniors, riders with disabilities, K-12 students, children 7-11, active-duty military and income-eligible riders with the required permits.
Pace buses
Pace express routes to downtown Chicago leave from the Plainfield Park-n-Ride:
- Route 755 Plainfield – IMD – West Loop Express runs weekday rush-hour service between the Plainfield Park-n-Ride and Union Station, with intermediate stops including the Old Chicago Park-n-Ride in Bolingbrook, the CTA Pink Line Damen station and the Illinois Medical District, per Pace.
- Route 855 Plainfield – East Loop Express runs weekday rush-hour service between the Plainfield and Burr Ridge Park-n-Rides and parts of the Loop, Streeterville and River North. Pace classifies it as a premium route with a $4.50 regular fare ($2.25 reduced).
Pace also runs local Joliet routes, plus Route 834 Joliet – Downers Grove and Route 832 Joliet – Orland Park.
Driving
The City of Joliet counts 10 interstate interchanges on I-80 and I-55 within city limits. I-355, the Illinois Tollway's Veterans Memorial Tollway, is a toll road; the Tollway collects tolls electronically. We don't publish drive times, because they vary widely with the time of day, weather and construction.
How long local commutes take
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey reports the mean travel time to work for all workers 16 and older, whatever their destination or mode. These 2020-2024 estimates include margins of error.
| Place | Mean travel time to work | Public transportation | Worked from home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet | 28.8 min (±0.7) | 1.3% | 8.8% |
| Crest Hill | 28.0 min (±2.1) | 0.9% | 6.2% |
| Lockport | 35.3 min (±3.6) | 2.0% | 13.8% |
| Shorewood | 34.7 min (±4.3) | 0.9% | 11.8% |
| Plainfield | 33.3 min (±1.2) | 1.6% | 23.3% |
| Romeoville | 32.3 min (±2.1) | 2.0% | 11.8% |
| New Lenox | 32.7 min (±1.4) | 2.9% | 15.3% |
These are averages across all commuters, not the time for a trip to Chicago.
Choosing where to rent for a Chicago commute
If you plan to commute by train, the station and line matter more than the town name. Rock Island riders can board at Joliet or New Lenox; Heritage Corridor riders can board at Joliet, Lockport or Romeoville. Compare the schedules for your work hours, then browse rentals near Metra.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Metra ride from Joliet to downtown Chicago?
- On Metra's weekday schedule for November 3, 2026, Rock Island trains from Joliet to LaSalle Street Station were scheduled at 60 to 85 minutes, with most trains at about 71 minutes. The three weekday Heritage Corridor trains from Joliet to Chicago Union Station were each scheduled at 67 minutes.
- How much is a Metra ticket from Joliet to Chicago?
- Joliet is in Metra fare Zone 4 and downtown Chicago is Zone 1. Metra's fare table lists a full-fare one-way ticket at $6.75, a Day Pass at $13.50 and a Monthly Pass at $135.00 for zones 1 through 4. A Saturday, Sunday or Holiday Day Pass is $7.
- Does the Heritage Corridor run on weekends?
- When we checked Metra's trip planner, the Heritage Corridor showed three inbound morning trains and three outbound evening trains on a weekday, and no trips on a Saturday. The Rock Island line runs on weekdays and weekends.
- What is the average commute time in Joliet?
- The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020-2024) puts the mean travel time to work for Joliet residents at 28.8 minutes, plus or minus 0.7 minutes. That figure covers all workers and all destinations, not only trips to Chicago.
Sources
- Metra, Train Schedules: Rock Island, Joliet to/from LaSalle Street, weekday schedule for Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · as of 2026-11-01
- Metra, Train Schedules: Heritage Corridor, Joliet to/from Chicago Union Station, weekday schedule for Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · as of 2026-11-01
- Metra, Fare Table · as of 2026-11-01
- Metra, Fares · as of 2026-11-01
- City of Joliet, Getting Here (Joliet Gateway Center) · as of 2026-11-01
- City of Joliet, Choose Joliet (interstate interchanges) · as of 2026-11-01
- Pace Suburban Bus, Route 855 Plainfield – East Loop Express · as of 2026-11-01
- Pace Suburban Bus, Route 755 Plainfield – IMD – West Loop Express · as of 2026-11-01
- Pace Suburban Bus, Routes, Schedules and Maps · as of 2026-11-01
- Illinois Tollway, Tolling Information Overview · as of 2026-11-01
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, Table DP03 (Selected Economic Characteristics: commuting) · as of 2020-2024