Origin
Kankakee, IL
Late night in Kankakee on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kankakee, 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 4m
Distance
41.3 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kankakee, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lockport, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 41.3-mile drive from Kankakee to Lockport, Illinois, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 4 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate primarily on local roads like North Convent Street and Lincoln Highway, with a brief stint on Veterans Memorial Tollway. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest. Since it's a short drive with no designated overnight stops, you can be quite flexible with your timing. Expect a local feel throughout this Illinois to Illinois excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Convent Street | 21.6 mi | 30m |
| Lincoln Highway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| North Cedar Road | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Wolf Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| East 9th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Kennedy Drive | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West 159th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Convent Street
— 21.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kankakee, IL and Lockport, IL.
1
Start on IL 17
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Court Street
2
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Kennedy Drive
3
Continue on US 45; US 52
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on East Marsile Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Marsile Street
5
Continue on US 45; US 52
22 mi
·
30 min
·
North Convent Street
6
Turn left onto West Steger Road
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Steger Road
7
Turn right onto Wolf Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Wolf Road
8
Turn left onto US 30
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Lincoln Highway
9
Continue on US 30
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Maple Street
10
Continue on US 30
442 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Lincoln Highway
11
Turn right onto North Cedar Road
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Cedar Road
12
Turn left onto US 6
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Maple Road
13
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto I 355
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 4
Toward IL 7: 159th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto IL 7
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West 159th Street
17
Continue on IL 7
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 9th Street
18
Arrive at destination
IL 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Kankakee, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 45; US 52 / Kennedy Drive
Turn right onto US 45; US 52 / Kennedy Drive
Navigation decision point
4
25 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
West Steger Road
Turn left onto West Steger Road
Navigation decision point
4
25.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Wolf Road
Turn right onto Wolf Road
Navigation decision point
5
34.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
$6.46 one way
$12.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.09 | $14.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.95 | $15.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.12 | $18.24 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(3.4 mi)
$0.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.78 | $2.64 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
4:09 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
18 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 4m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than cruising on a consistent highway. With a 0% highway share, you'll stay on surface streets and roads for the entire 41.3 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.6 miles on North Convent Street. This suggests a driving experience that involves navigating through towns and local areas, rather than open highway travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on North Convent Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 45; US 52 / Kennedy Drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 4m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 45; US 52 / Kennedy Drive): Navigation decision point; at 25 miles (West Steger Road): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles (Wolf Road): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Kankakee, IL
Full guide →Founded 1853
Top landmarks
- • Kankakee — Amtrak station in the Illinois city
- • Warren Hickox House — historic house in Illinois, United States
- • Kankakee County Courthouse — local government building in the United States
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 4m. Total distance: 41.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.6 miles on North Convent Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.24 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.
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 (US 45; US 52 / Kennedy Drive): Navigation decision point; at 25 miles (West Steger Road): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles (Wolf Road): Navigation decision point.
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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