Origin
Lockport, IL
Late night in Lockport on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lockport, IL to Carol Stream, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 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.
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.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 25.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
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 Sunday
Local time
2:59 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.
What kind of drive is this?
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.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on Veterans Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.55 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Carol Stream, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carol Stream, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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