Origin
Highland Park, IL
Night in Highland Park on Thursday
Local time
9:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland Park, IL to Lockport, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
54.4 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lockport, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Highland Park, IL to Lockport, IL covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.4 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 54.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 54.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
7
25.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
26.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
27.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
28.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Highland Park, IL and Lockport, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
O'hare
5.8 mi in
|
~10m
|
via I 294
Indiana
25.9 mi in
|
~36m
|
via I 294
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
28.8 mi in
|
~41m
|
via I 88; IL 110
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 22.4 mi | 29m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 16 mi | 18m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Deerfield Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| East 9th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West 159th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Green Bay Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 22.4 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Park, IL and Lockport, IL.
1
Start on Green Bay Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Green Bay Road
2
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
3
Continue on Deerfield Road
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Deerfield Road
4
Continue on Deerfield Road
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Deerfield Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 94
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit onto I 294
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 131A
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 355
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 4
Toward IL 7: 159th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto IL 7
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 159th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on IL 7
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 9th Street
19
Arrive at destination
IL 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.2 mi from Highland Park, IL · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Highland Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lockport, IL
The final approach into Lockport, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.50 one way
$17.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.34 | $18.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.47 | $20.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.87
Tri-state Tollway
(22.4 mi)
$1.35
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(16 mi)
$1.12
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(6.5 mi)
$0.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lockport, IL
Night in Lockport on Thursday
Local time
9:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Elmhurst, IL
27 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 13m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Highland Park, IL to Lockport, IL covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from Highland Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Highland Park, IL and Lockport, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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