How far is Waterloo, IL from Lockport, IL?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IL to Lockport, IL is about 283.8 miles (456.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 250.6 miles (403.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 57m 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
283.76 mi
04h 28m
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 Waterloo.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
283.76 mi
Kilometers
456.66 km
Drive Time
04h 28m

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 04h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lockport
Thu, Oct 15, 7:04 PM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Thu, Oct 15, 11:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-10-15T14:35
Arrive Lockport
Thu, Oct 15, 7:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:29 AM to 12:29 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
8:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterloo
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 Waterloo
141.2 mi
02h 14m
To Lockport
142.5 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
9 mph SW
Destination
64°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Mill Street

    79 m · 17 sec · West Mill Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    9.5 mi · 11 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on I 255 North, IL 3 North, US 50 East: East Saint Louis, Chicago, Great River Road Illinois North

    18.2 mi · 22 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East: Indianapolis, Chicago

    1.2 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    8.3 mi · 10 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

    107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    93.9 mi · 1 hr 41 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Indiana

    1.2 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Center Street

    1.3 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Continue on South Center Street

    1401 ft · 38 sec · South Center Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Hickory Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Hickory Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Bridge Street

    106 m · 15 sec · Bridge Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    4.4 mi · 9 min · Broadway Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West 9th Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · West 9th Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 9th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
240 mi · 85%
I 255 North
18.2 mi · 6%
I 80 East
5.8 mi · 2%
Broadway Street
4.39 mi · 2%
North Market Street
1.41 mi
West 9th Street
0.97 mi
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

108 mi · 01h 57m

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
04h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.2 mi
250.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Broadwell
02h 14m from Waterloo
Leave By
8:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 283.8 miles (456.7 km) and usually takes 04h 28m 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 141.2 miles from Waterloo and 142.5 miles from Lockport.

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 33.2 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 8:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.70 one way or $93.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Waterloo and Lockport. Straight-line distance: 250.6 mi (403.3 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

City in Illinois

Population10,536
Coordinates38.3358900, -90.1498300
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Lockport

#2 Lockport

The most populous city in Will County, Illinois.

Population59,877
Coordinates41.5894800, -88.0578400
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Start: West Mill Street (-90.149911, 38.336233)
End: West 9th Street (-88.057844, 41.589471)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 457 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.01 gal
37.9 L · about $46.70
Round trip
$93.39
20.02 gal · 75.8 L
Estimated CO2
89 kg one way
Round trip: 177.9 kg / 392 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $46.70 $93.39
Mid-grade $5.29 $52.97 $105.95
Premium $5.84 $58.43 $116.86
Diesel $6.57 $65.78 $131.55

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 Waterloo and Lockport. The current time is 14:35:57.

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.