If you are planning a trip from Lockport to Bruce, Illinois, expect a straightforward journey spanning 177.6 miles. With a total travel time of roughly 3 hours and 45 minutes, this trek is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via I-57, South La Grange Road, and County Highway 4. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive remains entirely within the Midwest, the transit is consistent and manageable for most drivers. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, the one-stop structure allows for a quick break to stretch your legs without overcomplicating your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.8 miles from Lockport, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
128.3 mi
2h 17m
South La Grange Road
10.1 mi
13m
County Highway 4
6.6 mi
15m
Briggs Street
3.6 mi
8m
Route 121
3.5 mi
5m
South Cedar Road
3.1 mi
4m
Manhattan Road
3.1 mi
4m
Charleston Avenue East
2.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 128.3 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockport, IL and Bruce, IL.
1
Start on IL 7
0.5 mi·1 min·West 9th Street
2
Turn right onto Garfield Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Garfield Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Division Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·East Division Street
4
Turn right onto CH 62
2.0 mi·4 min·South Briggs Street
5
Continue on CH 62
0.9 mi·2 min·Fernwood Avenue
6
Continue on CH 62
3.6 mi·8 min·Briggs Street
7
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
8
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi·3 min·West North Street
9
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·3 min·South State Street
10
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·US Route 52
11
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·South Cedar Road
12
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·2 min·West Arsenal Road
13
Continue on US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·West Joliet Road
14
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi·13 min·South La Grange Road
15
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.4 mi·40 sec·Bourbonnais Parkway
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I-57 South: Kankakee
17
Merge onto I 57
128 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 57
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 190BToward IL 16 West: Mattoon
19
Turn straight onto IL 16
2.8 mi·5 min·Charleston Avenue East
20
Turn right onto US 45; IL 121
0.5 mi·59 sec·South 19th Street
21
Turn left onto IL 121
2.0 mi·3 min·Dewitt Avenue
22
Continue on IL 121
3.5 mi·5 min·Route 121
23
Turn left onto 1000N
513 ft·14 sec·1000N
24
Continue on CTH 4
6.6 mi·15 min·County Highway 4
25
Turn left
0.1 mi·30 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your 3 hour and 45 minute drive smooth, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic near the Lockport starting point. Because the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to power through, but planning for your single required stop around the midpoint will help keep you focused. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge as you exit the interstate; while $27 is a solid estimate, costs can fluctuate depending on where you choose to pull over. Since the majority of your time is spent on I-57, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained highway speeds before you leave. Making this a one-day trip is highly recommended, as it keeps your travel logistics simple and efficient.
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 88.8 miles from Lockport, IL, or about 1h 55m 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 39 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.8 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bruce, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lockport, 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 Lockport, IL
This is one driving day of about 177.6 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Lockport, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 161.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Garfield Avenue
Turn right onto Garfield Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|East Division Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Division Street
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~2m in|CH 62 / South Briggs Street
Turn right onto CH 62 / South Briggs Street
Navigation decision point
4
22.3 mi into trip|~39m in|US 45; US 52 / South La Grange Road
Turn right onto US 45; US 52 / South La Grange Road
Navigation decision point
5
161.4 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward IL 16 West: Mattoon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 190B
Toward IL 16 West: Mattoon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.77 one way
$55.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.49
$60.97
premium
$4.89
$34.18
$68.36
diesel
$5.61
$39.21
$78.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.3
0
$18.65
$8.52
Efficient EV
44.4
0
$15.54
$7.10
EV Truck/SUV
71
0
$24.86
$11.37
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 11, 2026
Origin
Lockport, IL
Late night
in Lockport on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy
ESE 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Bruce, IL
Late night
in Bruce on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
13 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
3h 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 79% of your time spent on major routes. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-57, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 128.3 miles. The character of the drive shifts as you transition from the more congested areas near Lockport onto the open interstate, before eventually navigating the quieter, localized feel of County Highway 4. Expect a functional, efficient experience rather than a winding backroad adventure. Staying alert is key during that primary 128.3-mile interstate segment, as the road conditions remain consistent for a long duration.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and South La Grange Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Garfield Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lockport, IL to Bruce, IL is easy. At 3h 45m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Garfield Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (CH 62 / South Briggs Street): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 128.3 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Garfield Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (CH 62 / South Briggs Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Bruce, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
