Origin
Sycamore, IL
Late night in Sycamore on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sycamore, IL to Lockport, 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
1h 19m
Distance
62.3 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sycamore, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lockport, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 62.3-mile drive from Sycamore, IL to Lockport, IL takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes and is a straightforward trip within the Midwest region. It's easily manageable as a single-day excursion, so no overnight stays are necessary. You can expect a fuel cost of around $10 for this journey. The route primarily utilizes the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with some local road sections. It's a practical option for a quick regional hop, offering a direct connection between these two Illinois communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 36.3 mi | 41m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| South Peace Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| East 9th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North Peace Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| DeKalb Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West 159th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Elm Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 36.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sycamore, IL and Lockport, IL.
1
Start on IL 64
24 ft
·
8 sec
·
West State Street
2
Turn left onto Somonauk Street
416 ft
·
10 sec
·
Somonauk Street
3
Turn right onto West Elm Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
West Elm Street
4
Continue on DeKalb Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
DeKalb Avenue
5
Turn left onto South Peace Road
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Peace Road
6
Continue on North Peace Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Peace Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 88 Toll East: Chicago
8
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 131
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 355
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 4
Toward IL 7: 159th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto IL 7
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 159th Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on IL 7
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 9th Street
15
Arrive at destination
IL 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Sycamore, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 59.2 — 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
|
Somonauk Street
Turn left onto Somonauk Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Elm Street
Turn right onto West Elm Street
Navigation decision point
7
44.1 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 131
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
7
44.5 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 South: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
7
59.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
$9.74 one way
$19.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.69 | $21.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.76 | $27.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.18
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(36.3 mi)
$2.18
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(14.3 mi)
$1.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Lockport, IL
Late night in Lockport on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 19m 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 drive presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter frequent turns and navigate through local road networks for a significant portion. With a 0% highway share, you won't be on interstates for any extended period. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 36.3 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to more varied road conditions. Expect to navigate a mix of roadways as you make your way to Lockport.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.3 mi on Ronald Reagan 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 early in the drive near Somonauk Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Somonauk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Sycamore, IL
Full guide →Founded 1835
Sycamore is a city in the Kishwaukee Valley, located in Northern Illinois with a population of about 17,188.
Top landmarks
- • DeKalb County Courthouse — local government building in the United States
- • Sycamore Historic District — historic district in Sycamore, Illinois
- • Chicago and Northwestern Depot — railway station in Sycamore, the United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 62.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m 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 36.3 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.18 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan 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 Lockport, 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: near the start (Somonauk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Lockport, 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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