-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HXgfpGPBaNSy0/ekBLWV4YO3HOaIFMUh5G/ssiKnwHFPKrv7HCEVCajpnbhTSp7a
 OTU51J1JsrGx/EMpw6M2yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-024975.txt : 20040819
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-024975.hdr.sgml : 20040819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040819112114
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-024975
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040817
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040819

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUIXOTE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000032870
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS PRODUCTS, NEC [3089]
		IRS NUMBER:				362675371
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE E WACKER DR
		STREET 2:		STE 3000
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3124676755

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST WACKER DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ENERGY ABSORPTION SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19800815

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RILEY JOAN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001196031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08123
		FILM NUMBER:		04985508

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		QUIXOTE CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		35 EAST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 1100
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3127058410

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		QUIXOTE CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		35 EAST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 1100
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000032870</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUIXOTE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>QUIX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196031</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RILEY JOAN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>QUIXOTE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>35 EAST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 1100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Gen. Coun. &amp; Secty.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.40</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-08-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>92890</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vest in three equal annual installments beginning one year after the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Joan R. Riley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----