Origin
Kempton, IL
Afternoon in Kempton on Sunday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kempton, IL to Harpster, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kempton, IL
Tom Fisk
Harpster, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
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 75 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
$7.21 one way
$14.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.87 | $17.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Harpster, IL
Afternoon in Harpster on Sunday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
28 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 21m 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?
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 Effort
2/10
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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