Lockport to Marion is 242.3 miles and takes about 5h 17m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward trip through familiar territory. With over half the route on highways, expect a relatively quick travel time for the distance. It's a practical choice if you need to get from northern Illinois to the southern part of the state efficiently, with only one recommended stop to break up the driving.
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
121.1 miles from Lockport, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
128.6 mi
2h 17m
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi
19m
County Road 1150
12.3 mi
16m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
South La Grange Road
10.1 mi
13m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 128.6 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Lockport, IL and Marion, 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
129 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 57
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 190AToward IL 16 East: Charleston
19
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.7 mi·1 min·Charleston Avenue East
20
Continue on IL 16
6.0 mi·8 min·Illinois Route 16
21
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi·2 min·West Lincoln Avenue
22
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
23
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
24
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
25
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 East
26
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
27
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
28
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
29
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi·5 min·North Haughton Highway
30
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi·3 min·County Road 1700E
31
Continue on IL 130
13 mi·19 min·North 1250th Street
32
Turn left onto IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
33
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
34
Continue on IL 130
2.5 mi·4 min·North West Street
35
Continue on IL 130
12 mi·16 min·County Road 1150
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn right onto 2050N
2.9 mi·11 min·2050N
37
Arrive at destination
2050N
Trip Plan
For this 5h 17m drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Marion without feeling rushed. The route is manageable in a single day, but you have flexibility with your timing. The longest stretch is 128.6 miles on I 57, so plan your single recommended stop around the halfway point or slightly after this segment to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition off I 57, as services might be less frequent on the county roads.
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 121.1 miles from Lockport, IL, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.6 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 53 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.1 miles or 2h 29m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marion, 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 242.3 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 128.6 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 0.5 and 161.8 — 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
161.8 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Take the exit toward IL 16 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 190A
Toward IL 16 East: Charleston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.78 one way
$71.56 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.50
$79.01
premium
$4.72
$44.99
$89.98
diesel
$4.80
$45.75
$91.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.7
0
$25.44
$11.63
Efficient EV
60.6
0
$21.20
$9.69
EV Truck/SUV
96.9
1
$33.92
$15.51
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lockport, IL
Late night
in Lockport on Monday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WNW 10 to 15 mph62% 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
Marion, IL
Late night
in Marion on Monday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 12 mph13% 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
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 17m 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 route is 61% highway, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 57. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 128.6 miles on I 57. After this highway segment, you'll transition to County Road 1150 and North 1250th Street, indicating a shift to more rural, surface roads. Be prepared for a change in scenery and potentially more local traffic as you leave the interstate.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.6 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and North 1250th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Garfield Avenue.
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 17m drive. You will face about 11 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 1 miles (CH 62 / South Briggs Street): Navigation decision point.
Marion is a city in Southern Illinois. Named in honor of Francis Marion and settled in 1839, Marion isn't exactly replete with places to see but has forests and recreational areas nearby.
Top landmarks
•Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center — hospital in Marion, Illinois, United States
•Williamson County Jail — former county jail in Marion, Illinois
The longest stretch is about 128.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 18 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 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marion, IL before the return drive.
