Origin
Lockport, IL
Morning in Lockport on Tuesday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lockport, IL to Rolling Meadows, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lockport, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rolling Meadows, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lockport, IL to Rolling Meadows, IL is 39.4 miles and takes about 52 minutes via Veterans Memorial Tollway and I-290, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, so you won't be crossing state lines. Expect a route that involves a fair amount of turning, characteristic of local drives, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a short enough trip that you can easily complete it within a single day, making it a convenient option for many.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 27 mi | 32m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| West 9th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West 159th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Campbell Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Rohlwing Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kirchoff Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 27 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockport, IL and Rolling Meadows, 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
27 mi
·
32 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn sharp right onto Kirchoff Road
401 ft
·
18 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
9
Turn left onto Rohlwing Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Rohlwing Road
10
Turn right onto Campbell Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Campbell Street
11
Turn left onto Bluebird Lane
253 ft
·
11 sec
·
Bluebird Lane
12
Arrive at destination
Bluebird Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 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 38.1 — 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.
5
30.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
35.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
38.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Kirchoff Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Kirchoff Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.76 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.58 | $15.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.89
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(27 mi)
$1.89
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Rolling Meadows, IL
Morning in Rolling Meadows on Tuesday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
3 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
52m 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?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll navigate through various intersections and changes in road direction. While about 20% of the route involves highways, the majority feels more connected to local traffic patterns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of consistent speed before you transition back to more varied road conditions. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to local road layouts and traffic signals.
Only 20% 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: 27 mi on Veterans Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 39.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
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 30.3 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m 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 27 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.89 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 Rolling Meadows, 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 30.3 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Rolling Meadows, 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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