Origin
Winnetka, IL
Afternoon in Winnetka on Sunday
Local time
12:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winnetka, IL to Lockport, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
52 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winnetka, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lockport, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 52-mile drive from Winnetka, IL, to Lockport, IL, is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about 1 hour and 13 minutes. You'll primarily use major roads like the Tri-State Tollway and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with a bit of Willow Road. With a fuel cost estimated at around $8, this is an economical choice for a quick getaway within the Midwest. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local feel rather than an open highway experience. Given its short duration, it’s perfect for a day trip with no need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 17.2 mi | 23m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 16 mi | 18m |
| Willow Road | 6.6 mi | 12m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| East 9th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West 159th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Locust Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pine Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 17.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winnetka, IL and Lockport, IL.
1
Start on Pine Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Pine Street
2
Turn left onto Locust Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Locust Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Willow Road
6.6 mi
·
12 min
·
Willow Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 294 Toll South: Indiana
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 294
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 294
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 131A
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 355
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 4
Toward IL 7: 159th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto IL 7
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 159th Street
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on IL 7
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 9th Street
17
Arrive at destination
IL 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26 miles from Winnetka, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 26.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Willow Road
At end of road, turn right onto Willow Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
7.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Turn left toward I 294 Toll South: Indiana
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 294 Toll South: Indiana
8
24.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
25.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
26.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.13 one way
$16.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.93 | $17.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.01 | $20.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.48 | $22.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.55
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(16 mi)
$1.12
Tri-state Tollway
(17.2 mi)
$1.03
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(6.5 mi)
$0.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Lockport on Sunday
Local time
12:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
18 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
1h 13m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 52-mile journey. While you'll encounter stretches on the Tri-State Tollway, the highway percentage is 0%, meaning you won't be on continuous high-speed interstate driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 17.2 miles on the Tri-State Tollway. As you progress, the route will likely transition from more direct tollway segments to navigating local roads, requiring your attention to frequent turns and intersections. This drive offers a varied experience, blending some faster sections with more intricate local navigation.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.2 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.8 miles in near Willow Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.8 miles (Willow Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Winnetka, IL and Lockport, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Indiana
23.6 mi in
|
~36m
|
via I 294
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
26.4 mi in
|
~40m
|
via I 88; IL 110
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 52 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m 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 17.2 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.55 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 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: at 0.8 miles (Willow Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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