Trip from South Elgin, IL to Lockport, IL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

1h 1m

Distance

44.2 mi

71 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min

4 AM

0h 56m ★

6 AM

1h 1m

8 AM

1h 11m

10 AM

1h 5m

12 PM

1h 4m

3 PM

1h 5m

5 PM

1h 11m

8 PM

0h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Planning a trip from South Elgin, IL to Lockport, IL? This 44.2-mile journey takes about 1 hour to complete, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate on I-355, with some time on Lake Street and Bartlett Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this drive is quite budget-friendly for a quick excursion. The Midwest region offers a familiar driving landscape for this route. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a spontaneous outing or a planned visit without the need for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

22.1 miles from South Elgin, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This drive presents a mixed profile, with 58% of it on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced driving on I-355, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 25.7 miles. The remainder of the route incorporates local roads like Lake Street and Bartlett Road, offering a change of pace from the interstate. Expect a blend of efficient highway travel and more community-oriented driving as you make your way to Lockport. The transition between these road types should feel natural for most drivers.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 355 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East State Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Gilbert Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East State Street

Turn right onto East State Street

Navigation decision point

5

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Gilbert Street

Turn right onto South Gilbert Street

Navigation decision point

6

15.2 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet

5

15.5 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 355

Merge onto I 355

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

41.1 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward IL 7: 159th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 4 Toward IL 7: 159th Street

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 355	25.7 mi	30m
Lake Street	6.5 mi	10m
Bartlett Road	3.1 mi	5m
West Lake Street	3.1 mi	3m
East 9th Street	1.9 mi	3m
East Middle Street	1.2 mi	2m
South Sutton Road	0.9 mi	1m
West 159th Street	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 355 — 25.7 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Elgin, IL and Lockport, IL.

1

Start on South Center Street

39 ft · 3 sec · South Center Street

2

Turn right onto East State Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East State Street

3

Turn right onto South Gilbert Street

340 ft · 12 sec · South Gilbert Street

4

Turn left onto East Middle Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Middle Street

5

Continue on CR 61

3.1 mi · 5 min · Bartlett Road

Use the left lane.

6

Turn left onto IL 59

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Sutton Road

Use the left lane.

7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 34 sec

Use the right lane.

8

Merge onto US 20

3.1 mi · 3 min · West Lake Street

9

Continue on US 20

6.5 mi · 10 min · Lake Street

10

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet Use the right lane.

11

Merge onto I 355

26 mi · 30 min · I 355

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 4 Toward IL 7: 159th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

13

Turn right onto IL 7

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 159th Street

Use the right lane.

14

Continue on IL 7

1.9 mi · 3 min · East 9th Street

15

Arrive at destination

IL 7

Trip Plan

Given the short 1-hour duration and 44.2-mile distance, there's no need to rush this drive. You can leave South Elgin at your leisure, but consider avoiding peak rush hour times on I-355 if possible. With minimal stops recommended, focus on enjoying the drive itself. The estimated fuel cost of $7 means you likely won't need to worry about refueling mid-trip. A practical tip: keep an eye on your GPS for the best lane guidance when transitioning from I-355 to your final destination in Lockport.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 22.1 miles from South Elgin, IL, or about 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 44.2 miles or 1h 1m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 22.1 miles or 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lockport, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving South Elgin, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from South Elgin, IL

This is one driving day of about 44.2 miles and 1h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Elgin, IL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 355 for about 25.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22.1 mi from South Elgin, IL · 32m into the drive

city and county seat of DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wheaton, IL

22 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wheaton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from South Elgin, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lockport, IL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.91 one way

$13.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$7.59	$15.17
premium	$4.89	$8.51	$17.01
diesel	$5.61	$9.76	$19.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	13.3	$4.64	$2.12
Efficient EV	11.1	$3.87	$1.77
EV Truck/SUV	17.7	$6.19	$2.83

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

South Elgin, IL

Night in South Elgin on Tuesday

Local time

11:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lockport, IL

Night in Lockport on Tuesday

Local time

11:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

2 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 1m 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 South Elgin, IL to Lockport, IL covers 44.2 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 355, Lake Street, Bartlett Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 22.1 miles from South Elgin, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.91 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 44.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Gilbert Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

The route from South Elgin, IL to Lockport, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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