Traveling from Lockport to Collinsville covers 252.1 miles of Illinois terrain, typically requiring about 4 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is entirely within the Midwest, you can easily complete the trip in a single day, making an overnight stay unnecessary unless you prefer a slower pace. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-55 and I-80, resulting in a direct, highway-focused route. With an estimated fuel cost of $38, it is a straightforward trek that serves as a reliable connection between these two Illinois locations. Since the drive is well under five hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic near the urban centers.
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 miles from Lockport, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
235.7 mi
4h 14m
I 80
7 mi
8m
Vandalia Street
3 mi
4m
South State Street
2.7 mi
5m
Collins Street
2 mi
4m
Richards Street
0.7 mi
1m
South Morrison Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
East Jefferson Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 235.7 mi, about 4h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockport, IL and Collinsville, IL.
1
Start on IL 7
110 ft·6 sec·West 9th Street
2
Turn right onto IL 171
2.7 mi·5 min·South State Street
3
Continue on IL 171
2.0 mi·4 min·Collins Street
4
Continue on US 6; US 30
404 ft·18 sec·East Jefferson Street
5
Turn left onto Richards Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Richards Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
7
Merge onto I 80
7.0 mi·8 min·I 80
Use the right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 55
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward IL 159 South: Collinsville
13
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
14
Continue on IL 159
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Morrison Avenue
15
Turn left onto East Grove Avenue
59 ft·7 sec·East Grove Avenue
16
Turn left
132 ft·9 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 252.1-mile journey, aim to schedule at least one stop to break up the long 235.7-mile stretch on I-55. Since the entire trip is estimated at $38 in fuel, filling up before you leave Lockport can help you avoid fluctuating gas prices along the interstate. Keep an eye on your clock during peak hours, as the heavy reliance on major thoroughfares means your travel time could fluctuate based on traffic patterns near the start and end points. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so consider departing mid-morning to bypass the worst of the commuter congestion. Planning your single recommended stop near the midway point of the I-55 leg will keep you refreshed for the final approach into Collinsville.
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 miles from Lockport, IL, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 235.7 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 55 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collinsville, 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 252.1 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 55 for about 235.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 170.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.6 mi into trip|~13m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
12.6 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 126A
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
13 mi into trip|~22m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
106 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
7
170.8 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.41 one way
$78.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.27
$86.55
premium
$4.89
$48.51
$97.03
diesel
$5.61
$55.66
$111.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.6
0
$26.47
$12.10
Efficient EV
63
0
$22.06
$10.08
EV Truck/SUV
100.8
1
$35.29
$16.13
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Lockport, IL
Late night
in Lockport on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 20 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Collinsville, IL
Late night
in Collinsville on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
126 mi in
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
27 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
4h 43m 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.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 165.1
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?
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 96% of this route consists of highway travel. The core of your journey is a significant 235.7-mile stretch exclusively on I-55, which dictates the pace and feel of the drive. While the transition into Vandalia Street provides a brief change of pace as you reach Collinsville, the character of the road remains functional and efficient throughout. You won’t find many technical curves or winding backroads here; instead, anticipate a steady, consistent flow of traffic. This is a classic Midwest highway grind designed for getting you to your destination with minimal detours.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 235.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort6/10
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 252.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 5.6 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 13 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
761 ft544 ft
Total Climb
260 ft
Total Descent
290 ft
Highest Point
761 ft
~108 mi in
Elevation Range
217 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lockport, IL to Collinsville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Collinsville is a city in Southern Illinois in the Saint Louis Metro East area. It is the "Horseradish Capital of the World": 85 percent of the world's horseradish is grown in Collinsville and the surrounding area. It is also the home of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 252.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 235.7 miles on I 55. 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.
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 Collinsville, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 13 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Collinsville, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
