Jackson, IL to Lockport, IL is 252.2 miles and takes about 5h 23m via I 57 and IL 33, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest. Expect a primarily highway experience with minimal deviations. With just one recommended stop and a total drive time under six hours, this is a straightforward, single-day trip for anyone looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.1 miles from Jackson, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
128.3 mi
2h 17m
IL 33
36.3 mi
53m
US 50
18.6 mi
25m
US 45
18.2 mi
25m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
Lincoln Highway
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 128.3 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~865 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 5 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, IL and Lockport, IL.
1
Start on 990N
0.1 mi·27 sec·990N
2
Turn sharp left onto US 50 Business
2.5 mi·3 min·US 50 Business
3
Continue on State Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·State Street
4
Take the ramp onto US 50 Business
0.4 mi·1 min·US 50 Business
5
Continue on US 50
19 mi·25 min·US 50
6
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East Main Street
7
Turn right onto North Lincoln Avenue
481 ft·18 sec·North Lincoln Avenue
8
Turn left onto East Butler Street
1.3 mi·3 min·East Butler Street
9
Turn right onto IL 130
1.3 mi·2 min·North West Street
10
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
11
Continue on IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
12
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
36 mi·53 min·IL 33; IL 130
13
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
14
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
15
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
17
Merge onto I 57
128 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 57
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
19
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Bourbonnais Parkway
20
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
18 mi·25 min·US 45; US 52
21
Turn left onto West Steger Road
0.2 mi·54 sec·West Steger Road
22
Turn right onto Wolf Road
2.3 mi·4 min·Wolf Road
23
Turn left onto US 30
3.8 mi·5 min·Lincoln Highway
24
Continue on US 30
0.3 mi·26 sec·East Maple Street
25
Continue on US 30
442 ft·10 sec·West Lincoln Highway
26
Turn right onto North Cedar Road
2.4 mi·5 min·North Cedar Road
27
Turn left onto US 6
0.2 mi·18 sec·Maple Road
28
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·57 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: West SuburbsUse the right lane.
29
Merge onto I 355
3.4 mi·3 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 4Toward IL 7: 159th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn straight onto IL 7
0.9 mi·1 min·West 159th Street
32
Continue on IL 7
1.9 mi·3 min·East 9th Street
33
Arrive at destination
IL 7
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 23m duration, leaving Jackson, IL in the morning will allow ample time to reach Lockport, IL before dusk. Plan for your single recommended stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the 128.3-mile stretch on I 57. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as major highway services can sometimes be spaced out. The $39 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, but it's always wise to have a little extra set aside for unexpected needs.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 126.1 miles from Jackson, IL, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.3 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 55 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.1 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 17m
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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, IL
This is one driving day of about 252.2 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Jackson, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 128.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 249.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 50 Business
Turn sharp left onto US 50 Business
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
23.2 mi into trip|~33m in|East Butler Street
Turn left onto East Butler Street
Navigation decision point
5
216.7 mi into trip|~4h 28m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
5
245.2 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
7
249.2 mi into trip|~5h 17m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.24 one way
$74.49 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.12
$82.23
premium
$4.72
$46.83
$93.65
diesel
$4.80
$47.62
$95.24
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(3.4 mi)$0.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.48
$12.11
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.07
$10.09
EV Truck/SUV
100.9
1
$35.31
$16.14
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Jackson, IL
Evening
in Jackson on Monday
Local time
7:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Cloudy
WSW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Lockport, IL
Evening
in Lockport on Monday
Local time
7:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 243.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely on the highway, with 83% of the drive spent on major roads like I 57. You'll experience a long stretch of 128.3 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface roads like IL 33 and US 50. The percentage of highway driving suggests frequent exits and potentially faster cruising speeds for the majority of your travel.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.3 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and IL 33. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 50 Business.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 50 Business): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 23.2 miles (East Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 216.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The longest stretch is about 128.3 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.24 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 50 Business): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 23.2 miles (East Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 216.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lockport, IL before the return drive.
