Mount Vernon, IL to Lockport, IL is 261.8 miles and takes about 5h 1m via South 9th Street, Main Street, and Broadway Street, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, offering a direct path north. Given its 5-hour duration and lack of interstate driving, this route is best suited for a single-day trip when you want to avoid highways. Plan for a straightforward drive with a focus on local roads.
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
130.9 miles from Mount Vernon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
154.9 mi
2h 45m
Ken Gray Expressway
68.5 mi
1h 14m
US 45
18.2 mi
25m
Lincoln Highway
3.8 mi
5m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
3.4 mi
3m
North Cedar Road
2.4 mi
5m
Wolf Road
2.3 mi
4m
Broadway Street
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 154.9 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~761 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,099
Quietest
2 AM
~115 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Mount Vernon, IL and Lockport, IL.
1
Start on IL 15
143 ft·9 sec·Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto South 9th Street
287 ft·20 sec·South 9th Street
3
Turn left onto IL 15
0.4 mi·40 sec·Main Street
4
Turn straight onto IL 15
2.2 mi·4 min·Broadway Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·21 sec
6
Merge onto I 57; I 64
1.1 mi·1 min·Ken Gray Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
155 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
10
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Bourbonnais Parkway
11
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
18 mi·25 min·US 45; US 52
12
Turn left onto West Steger Road
0.2 mi·54 sec·West Steger Road
13
Turn right onto Wolf Road
2.3 mi·4 min·Wolf Road
14
Turn left onto US 30
3.8 mi·5 min·Lincoln Highway
15
Continue on US 30
0.3 mi·26 sec·East Maple Street
16
Continue on US 30
442 ft·10 sec·West Lincoln Highway
17
Turn right onto North Cedar Road
2.4 mi·5 min·North Cedar Road
18
Turn left onto US 6
0.2 mi·18 sec·Maple Road
19
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·57 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: West SuburbsUse the right lane.
20
Merge onto I 355
3.4 mi·3 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 4Toward IL 7: 159th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto IL 7
0.9 mi·1 min·West 159th Street
23
Continue on IL 7
1.9 mi·3 min·East 9th Street
24
Arrive at destination
IL 7
Trip Plan
Since this drive is just over 5 hours and entirely on local roads, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider leaving in the morning to arrive in Lockport by mid-afternoon, giving you time to settle in. With no long highway stretches, you can easily take breaks as needed at any town along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel, as local driving can sometimes be less fuel-efficient than highway cruising; your estimated cost is $41. A good tip for this route is to use a GPS app that prioritizes local roads to avoid accidental detours onto highways you're trying to avoid.
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 130.9 miles from Mount Vernon, IL, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.9 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 58 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.9 miles or 2h 23m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lockport, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, IL
This is one driving day of about 261.8 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Mount Vernon, 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 154.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 258.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South 9th Street
Turn left onto South 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
226.3 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
7
258.8 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward IL 7: 159th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IL 7: 159th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.30 one way
$86.60 round trip
$4.20/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$47.02
$94.04
premium
$5.23
$53.91
$107.81
diesel
$6.20
$63.89
$127.79
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(3.4 mi)$0.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.
EV Charging Along Route
32 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Salem, IL - Tesla Supercharger
Salem, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Effingham, IL - Avenue of Mid-America - Tesla Supercharger
Effingham, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Champaign, IL - West Kirby Avenue - Tesla Supercharger
Champaign, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Bake Lab
Urbana, IL
RED_E
12 DCFC
Champaign Town Center Blvd
Champaign, IL
RED_E
10 DCFC
Mt. Vernon, IL - South 42nd Street - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.5
0
$27.49
$12.57
Efficient EV
65.5
0
$22.91
$10.47
EV Truck/SUV
104.7
1
$36.65
$16.76
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 Oct 10, 2026
Origin
Mount Vernon, IL
Morning
in Mount Vernon on Saturday
Local time
6:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
ENE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lockport, IL
Morning
in Lockport on Saturday
Local time
6:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Clear
SSE 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 1m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 252.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 261.8 miles with 0% on highways, meaning you'll be on surface streets for the entire drive. Expect a route with frequent turns, as indicated by its profile. The drive will likely involve navigating through towns and cities, with a constant need to adjust speed and watch for intersections. The longest stretch without a significant change in direction or speed is not specified, so be prepared for continuous engagement with the road.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 9th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 261.8 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (South 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 261.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.24 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.
Yes — we found about 28 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.5 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 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lockport, IL before the return drive.
