How far is Lockport, IL from Waterloo, IL?

The driving distance from Lockport, IL to Waterloo, IL is about 283.2 miles (455.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 250.6 miles (403.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
283.24 mi
05h 21m
Flight
250.6 mi
403.3 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lockport.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
250.6 mi
Kilometers
403.3 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
283.24 mi
Kilometers
455.83 km
Drive Time
05h 21m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Thu, Oct 15, 8:42 PM CDT
Return by in Lockport
Fri, Oct 16, 2:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lockport
2026-10-15T15:20
Arrive Waterloo
Thu, Oct 15, 8:42 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:22 AM to 1:22 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lockport
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Broadwell
IL

Township in Logan County, Illinois

From Lockport
141.6 mi
02h 40m
To Waterloo
141.6 mi
02h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE
Destination
81°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lockport and Waterloo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lockport and Waterloo.

  1. 1

    Start on West 9th Street

    34 m · 6 sec · West 9th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South State Street

    2.7 mi · 6 min · South State Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Collins Street

    2 mi · 5 min · Collins Street

  4. 4

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    123 m · 19 sec · East Jefferson Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Richards Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Richards Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island

    969 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    7 mi · 9 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

    1900 ft · 54 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    93 mi · 1 hr 40 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    82 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270

    1386 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 255 South: Memphis

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    17.2 mi · 20 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward IL 3 South: Columbia

    10.4 mi · 13 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    1.4 mi · 4 min · North Market Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West Mill Street

    79 m · 11 sec · West Mill Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Mill Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lockport and Waterloo.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
240 mi · 85%
I 255 South
18.3 mi · 6%
IL 3 South
10.4 mi · 4%
I 80 West
7.17 mi · 3%
South State Street
2.66 mi · 1%
Collins Street
1.95 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 South

Merge slight left

93 mi · 01h 40m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.6 mi
250.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Broadwell
02h 40m from Lockport
Leave By
6:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lockport and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lockport to Waterloo?

The road trip is about 283.2 miles (455.8 km) and usually takes 05h 21m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Broadwell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.6 miles from Lockport and 141.6 miles from Waterloo.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 250.6 miles (403.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.60 one way or $93.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Lockport and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterloo.

Stop Ideas Near Broadwell

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Broadwell, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Broadwell.

RAIL

Lincoln

11 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Springfield station

35 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

63 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

70 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lockport and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 250.6 mi (403.3 km).

Lockport

#1 Lockport

The most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population59,877
Coordinates41.5894800, -88.0578400
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Waterloo

#2 Waterloo

City in Illinois

Population10,536
Coordinates38.3358900, -90.1498300
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Lockport (-88.05784, 41.58948)
End: Waterloo (-90.14983, 38.33589)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 456 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.99 gal
37.83 L · about $46.60
Round trip
$93.21
19.98 gal · 75.66 L
Estimated CO2
88.8 kg one way
Round trip: 177.6 kg / 392 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $46.60 $93.21
Mid-grade $5.29 $52.87 $105.73
Premium $5.84 $58.31 $116.62
Diesel $6.57 $65.64 $131.29

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lockport and Waterloo. The current time is 15:20:48.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.