Origin
Lockport, IL
Late night in Lockport on Friday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lockport, IL to Carol Stream, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
32 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lockport, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Carol Stream, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 32-mile drive from Lockport, IL to Carol Stream, IL is a straightforward trip, estimated to take around 45 minutes. Primarily using Veterans Memorial Tollway and North Avenue, the route stays within the Midwest region and the state of Illinois. With a modest fuel cost of approximately $5, this journey is perfectly suited for a single day trip, requiring no overnight stays. It's a practical local drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently, making it ideal for a quick, no-fuss excursion.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 32 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m 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 turn-heavy local drive for this 32-mile route, with only a small portion on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.1 miles along the Veterans Memorial Tollway. As you transition from the tollway to roads like North Avenue, the character of the drive shifts, becoming more involved with local traffic and intersections. The 0% highway share means you'll be navigating more city streets and potentially dealing with more frequent stops.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
25.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward IL 64: North Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward IL 64: North Avenue
8
25.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 64: Glendale Heights, Carol Stream
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward IL 64: Glendale Heights, Carol Stream
4
25.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
IL 64 / North Avenue
Turn left onto IL 64 / North Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 22.1 mi | 26m |
| North Avenue | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| West 9th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West 159th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Kuhn Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Thunderbird Trail | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Thunderbird Trail | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Aztec Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 22.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockport, IL and Carol Stream, IL.
1
Start on IL 7
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West 9th Street
2
Continue on IL 7
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 159th Street
3
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 355
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 27
Toward IL 64: North Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
338 ft
·
10 sec
Toward IL 64: Glendale Heights, Carol Stream
Use the left / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto IL 64
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North Avenue
Use the left / uturn lanes.
8
Turn right onto Kuhn Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Kuhn Road
9
Turn right onto Thunderbird Trail
202 ft
·
10 sec
·
Thunderbird Trail
10
Turn right onto Aztec Drive
160 ft
·
8 sec
·
Aztec Drive
11
Turn left onto West Thunderbird Trail
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Thunderbird Trail
12
Arrive at destination
West Thunderbird Trail
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16 mi from Lockport, IL · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16 miles from Lockport, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carol Stream, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Carol Stream, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.00 one way
$10.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.49 | $10.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.07 | $14.13 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.55
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(22.1 mi)
$1.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Carol Stream, IL
Late night in Carol Stream on Friday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
45m 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 Lockport, IL to Carol Stream, IL covers 32 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Tollway, North Avenue, West 9th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16 miles from Lockport, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.00 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 32 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lockport, IL to Carol Stream, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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