How far is Kankakee, IN from Gary, IN?

The driving distance from Kankakee, IN to Gary, IN is about 54.9 miles (88.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.1 miles (67.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
54.9 mi
01h 05m
Flight
42.14 mi
67.81 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kankakee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.14 mi
Kilometers
67.81 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
54.9 mi
Kilometers
88.35 km
Drive Time
01h 05m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gary
Sat, May 30, 7:43 AM CDT
Return by in Kankakee
Sat, May 30, 8:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kankakee
2026-05-30T06:37
Arrive Gary
Sat, May 30, 7:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:20 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kankakee
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Westville
IN

Borough of New Jersey

From Kankakee
26.6 mi
00h 32m
To Gary
28.3 mi
00h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 5:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph E
Destination
72°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Kankakee and Gary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kankakee and Gary.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    5.9 mi · 8 min

  2. 2

    Continue straight

    6.2 mi · 11 min

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Osborn Street

    670 ft · 25 sec · Osborn Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Indiana Avenue

    1 km · 2 min · Indiana Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Pine Lake Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Pine Lake Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn slight right

    58 m · 7 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto State Road 39

    2.4 mi · 4 min · State Road 39

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right

    1661 ft · 41 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    1089 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    34.2 mi · 38 min · Indiana Toll Road

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 53: Broadway

    2139 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Broadway

    549 ft · 30 sec · Broadway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

    1347 ft · 30 sec · West 4th Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Madison Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 10th Place

    1298 ft · 57 sec · 10th Place

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 10th Place

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Kankakee and Gary.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
16 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
34.2 mi · 62%
State Road 39
2.95 mi · 5%
Pine Lake Avenue
1.55 mi · 3%
Madison Street
0.74 mi · 1%
Indiana Avenue
0.64 mi · 1%
SR 53
0.41 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Indiana Toll Road

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

34.2 mi · 00h 38m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 05m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.8 mi
42.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Westville
00h 32m from Kankakee
Leave By
4:20 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Kankakee and Mostly Sunny near Gary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Kankakee to Gary?

The road trip is about 54.9 miles (88.4 km) and usually takes 01h 05m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Westville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 26.6 miles from Kankakee and 28.3 miles from Gary.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 42.1 miles (67.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.32 one way or $14.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Kankakee and Mostly Sunny near Gary.

Stop Ideas Near Westville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Westville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Westville.

RAIL

Michigan City

20 mi away
100 Washington St.
RAIL

New Buffalo, Michigan

30 mi away
517 South Whittaker Street
RAIL

New Buffalo

31 mi away
226 North Whittaker Street
BUS

Gary, IN

37 mi away
100 West 4th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kankakee and Gary. Straight-line distance: 42.14 mi (67.81 km).

Kankakee

#1 Kankakee

Township in LaPorte County, Indiana

Population982
Coordinates41.5083800, -86.5394600
Altitude210
CountryUnited States
Gary

#2 Gary

The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.

Population74,693
Coordinates41.5933700, -87.3464300
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: SR 104 (-86.5394, 41.508409)
End: (-87.346439, 41.59327)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 88 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.94 gal
7.33 L · about $7.32
Round trip
$14.63
3.88 gal · 14.66 L
Estimated CO2
17.2 kg one way
Round trip: 34.5 kg / 76 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.32 $14.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.25 $16.50
Premium $4.65 $9.03 $18.06
Diesel $5.30 $10.29 $20.58

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Indiana · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Kankakee and Gary. The current time is 06:37:58.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.