Origin
Saint Joseph, IN
Late night in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
2:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Joseph, IN to Kankakee, IN
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
4h 59m
Distance
242.7 mi
391 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 46m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, IN
Wikimedia Commons
Kankakee, IN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Kankakee, IN covers 242.7 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Meridian Street, I 65, I 69 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on North Meridian Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.4 miles from Saint Joseph, IN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 242.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
The drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Kankakee, IN covers 242.7 miles and takes about 4h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Meridian Street is the longest continuous segment at about 105 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 95.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 242.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 95.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
95.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Southport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 103
Toward Southport Road
7
116.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward Keystone Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33
Toward Keystone Avenue
7
116.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
Turn right toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th Street
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street...
7
116.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
North Keystone Avenue
Merge onto North Keystone Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
117.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
Enter roundabout toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Kankakee, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Bremen along the way.
Bremen
227.5 mi in
|
~4h 36m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Meridian Street | 105 mi | 2h 10m |
| I 65 | 86.7 mi | 1h 33m |
| I 69 | 14 mi | 16m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Keystone Parkway | 5 mi | 7m |
| Laporte Trail | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| I 465 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| US 31 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
North Meridian Street
— 105 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, IN and Kankakee, IN.
1
Start on Grant Line Road
233 ft
·
4 sec
·
Grant Line Road
2
Continue on State Road 111
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
State Road 111
3
Turn right onto SR 60
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Road 60
4
Turn left onto Perry Crossing Road
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Perry Crossing Road
5
Turn left onto US 31
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 31
6
Turn left onto Memphis-Blue Lick Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Memphis-Blue Lick Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
8
Merge onto I 65
87 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
I 65
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 103
Toward Southport Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight right
176 ft
·
4 sec
11
Turn straight onto East Southport Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Southport Road
12
Turn left onto South Emerson Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Emerson Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
14
Merge onto I 69; I 74; I 465
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 69; I 74; I 465
15
Continue on I 69; I 465
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 69; I 465
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 465
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 465
17
Continue on I-465 WB
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
I-465 WB
18
Continue on I 465
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 465
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 33
Toward Keystone Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn right
172 ft
·
6 sec
Toward North Keystone Parkway, West 96th Street, West 98th Street, East 96th Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto North Keystone Avenue
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Keystone Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Enter roundabout
113 ft
·
6 sec
Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
23
Continue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward North Keystone Parkway, East 98th Street
24
Keep slight left at fork
436 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Keystone Parkway
25
Merge onto Keystone Parkway
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Keystone Parkway
26
Merge onto US 31
105 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
North Meridian Street
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 6: Walkerton, Bremen
28
Turn left onto US 6
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
29
Continue on US 6
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
30
Turn right onto SR 104
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Laporte Trail
31
Arrive at destination
SR 104
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121.4 miles from Saint Joseph, IN, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 53 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.4 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kankakee, IN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Joseph, IN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, IN
This is one driving day of about 242.7 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Saint Joseph, IN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on North Meridian Street for about 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.4 mi from Saint Joseph, IN · 2h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.4 miles from Saint Joseph, IN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Meridian Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
Arriving in Kankakee, IN
The final approach into Kankakee, IN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kankakee, IN.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.94 one way
$75.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.66 | $83.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.71 | $93.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.59 | $107.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.48 | $11.65 |
| Efficient EV | 60.7 | 0 | $21.24 | $9.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.1 | 1 | $33.98 | $15.53 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Kankakee, IN
Late night in Kankakee on Friday
Local time
1:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
9 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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Kankakee, IN covers 242.7 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Meridian Street, I 65, I 69. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.4 miles from Saint Joseph, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 242.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 95.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Saint Joseph, IN to Kankakee, IN, road signs begin pointing toward Bremen along the way.
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