If you are planning a trip from Lockport to Frankfort, expect a straightforward journey covering 289.4 miles. The drive typically takes about 5 hours and 33 minutes, making it a manageable, single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize I-57, the Ken Gray Expressway, and South La Grange Road to navigate through the Midwest. Budgeting approximately $44 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since the drive is quite direct, you likely will not need an overnight stay, allowing you to reach your destination in one efficient push.
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
144.7 miles from Lockport, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
226.2 mi
4h 3m
Ken Gray Expressway
27.1 mi
29m
South La Grange Road
10.1 mi
13m
Briggs Street
3.6 mi
8m
South Cedar Road
3.1 mi
4m
Manhattan Road
3.1 mi
4m
West Main Street
2.5 mi
3m
West North Street
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 226.2 mi, about 4h 3m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~897 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,104
Quietest
3 AM
~139 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Lockport, IL and Frankfort, 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
161 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 57
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
27 mi·29 min·Ken Gray Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
21
Enter roundabout onto IL 149
0.2 mi·16 sec·West Main Street
22
Continue on IL 149
2.3 mi·3 min·West Main Street
23
Turn left onto North Benton Road
0.1 mi·36 sec·North Benton Road
24
Turn right onto East Saint Louis Street
98 ft·4 sec·East Saint Louis Street
25
Arrive at destination
East Saint Louis Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 33-minute travel time, plan for at least one stop to break up the long 226.2-mile segment on I-57. Since you are staying within the state of Illinois, you have the flexibility to depart whenever traffic patterns suit your schedule best. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge as you begin the long stretch, as you will want to hit your $44 budget estimate by refilling strategically. Because this route is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without feeling rushed. Prioritize a steady pace to ensure you reach Frankfort comfortably by your desired arrival time.
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 144.7 miles from Lockport, IL, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.2 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 64 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.7 miles or 2h 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 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frankfort, 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 289.4 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 226.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 286.7 — 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
5
193.7 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
286.5 mi into trip|~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
5
286.7 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|IL 149 / West Main Street
Enter roundabout onto IL 149 / West Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.74 one way
$85.48 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$47.18
$94.36
premium
$4.72
$53.73
$107.47
diesel
$4.80
$54.64
$109.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.8
1
$30.39
$13.89
Efficient EV
72.4
0
$25.32
$11.58
EV Truck/SUV
115.8
1
$40.52
$18.52
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Lockport, IL
Afternoon
in Lockport on Sunday
Local time
12:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Frankfort, IL
Afternoon
in Frankfort on Sunday
Local time
12:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
SW 2 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
1 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
5h 33m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on high-speed routes. You will face a significant, long-haul stretch of 226.2 miles on I-57, which defines the bulk of the experience. The route transitions from these fast interstate lanes to the local flow of the Ken Gray Expressway and South La Grange Road. Expect a consistent, efficient pace behind the wheel as you navigate the regional landscape. It is a practical route designed for steady movement rather than winding, technical driving.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Garfield Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 33m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Garfield Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 193.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
768 ft421 ft
Total Climb
430 ft
Total Descent
549 ft
Highest Point
768 ft
~165.4 mi in
Elevation Range
347 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 226.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 193.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Frankfort, IL before the return drive.
