This straightforward 46.1-mile drive from Kempton to Harpster in Illinois is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. The route primarily utilizes IL 115 and IL 54, with a short section on East 1st Street in Harpster. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this is an economical journey. The highway-focused profile means you'll cover ground efficiently, making it ideal for a quick transit between these two Midwest towns. Since there are no recommended overnight stops and the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 115
22.1 mi
35m
IL 54
15.2 mi
26m
East 1st Street
5.8 mi
10m
East 3700 North Road
1.4 mi
5m
Green Street
1.4 mi
2m
Township Line Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
East 50 North Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Gardner Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IL 115
— 22.1 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kempton, IL and Harpster, IL.
1
Start on Main Street
350 ft·16 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto Gardner Street
424 ft·19 sec·Gardner Street
3
Turn right onto Township Line Road
470 ft·20 sec·Township Line Road
4
Continue on East 3700 North Road
1.4 mi·5 min·East 3700 North Road
5
Turn right onto IL 115
13 mi·19 min·IL 115
6
Turn slight right onto IL 115
1.4 mi·2 min·Green Street
7
Turn right onto IL 115
9.5 mi·16 min·IL 115
8
Turn right onto IL 54
15 mi·26 min·IL 54
Use the right lane.
9
At end of road, turn right onto IL 9; IL 54
5.8 mi·10 min·East 1st Street
10
Turn right onto East 50 North Road
437 ft·19 sec·East 50 North Road
11
Arrive at destination
East 50 North Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Kempton, 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Gardner Street
Turn left onto Gardner Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Township Line Road
Turn right onto Township Line Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip|~6m in|IL 115
Turn right onto IL 115
Navigation decision point
5
25 mi into trip|~44m in|IL 54
Turn right onto IL 54
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
40.2 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|IL 9; IL 54 / East 1st Street
At end of road, turn right onto IL 9; IL 54 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.81 one way
$13.62 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$7.52
$15.03
premium
$4.72
$8.56
$17.12
diesel
$4.80
$8.70
$17.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.8
0
$4.84
$2.21
Efficient EV
11.5
0
$4.03
$1.84
EV Truck/SUV
18.4
0
$6.45
$2.95
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 6, 2026
Origin
Kempton, IL
Night
in Kempton on Monday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
NNE 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 6 at 9:40AM CDT until July 9 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 6 at 9:18AM CDT until July 9 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Harpster, IL
Night
in Harpster on Monday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 8 to 12 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 6 at 9:40AM CDT until July 9 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 6 at 9:18AM CDT until July 9 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
65°F
Roberts, IL
23 mi in
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
1 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 21m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 46.1-mile journey, with 81% of the drive on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.1 miles along IL 115, allowing for sustained travel. While primarily on highways, the route seamlessly transitions between IL 115 and IL 54, offering a consistent driving pace. This road's personality is one of efficiency, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, rather than prioritizing scenic detours.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on IL 115.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 115 and IL 54. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Gardner Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kempton, IL to Harpster, IL is easy. At 1h 21m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gardner Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Township Line Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IL 115): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on IL 115. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Gardner Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Township Line Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IL 115): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Harpster, IL before heading back.
