Origin
Kankakee, IL
Evening in Kankakee on Friday
Local time
5:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kankakee, IL to Lockport, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 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.
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
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
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.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Convent Street is the longest continuous segment at about 21.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.7 mi from Kankakee, IL · 30m into the drive
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.
Arriving in Lockport, IL
The final approach into Lockport, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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
Evening in Lockport on Friday
Local time
5:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
20 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kankakee, IL to Lockport, IL covers 41.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Convent Street, Lincoln Highway, Veterans Memorial Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.7 miles from Kankakee, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 4m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from Kankakee, IL to Lockport, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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