Kankakee is a city in Chicagoland.

Understand

The Kankakee metropolitan area has a population of about 120,000. The elevation of Kankakee is a little below 700 feet above Sea Level.

The major industries of the Kankakee area are health care, higher education, manufacturing, and retail trade. The Kankakee Area is the regional retail market center for the Far Southern Chicago suburbs, with a strong reputation as a City of Restaurants serving Interstate Highway 57 travelers, from Interstate Highway 57 Exit 308, Interstate Highway 57 Exit 312, Interstate Highway 57 Exit 315, and Interstate Highway 57 Exit 322. Suburban Bradley is the retail hub serving Interstate Highway 57 Exit 315.

The Kankakee Area has a hot summer, cold winter climate, typical of the interior Midwest region of the United States of America.

Get in

By train

Kankakee is served by the Illinois Central Railroad, a Canadian National Railway subsidiary, which provides Amtrak passenger service to Kankakee Depot and freight service. The Amtrak Station ID is KKI. In addition, one can use the University Park Metra Station, located approximately 18 miles north, on Governor's Highway (Route 50). This station is operated by the Regional Transportation Authority, and facilitates travel to the city of Chicago, terminating at the Randolph Street Subway.

By bus

Kankakee is served by Greyhound Bus Lines.

By car

Kankakee is located on Interstate Highway 57, from South to North served by Exits 308, 312, and 315; United States Highway 45; United States Highway 52; Illinois State Highway 17; Illinois State Highway 50; Illinois State Highway 113; and Illinois State Highway 115.

By plane

The Kankakee Area is served by the Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK).

Get around

By bus

Kankakee is served by the River Valley Metro Transit District.

Eat

With its reputation as a City of Restaurants the Kankakee area has a greater share of restaurants, and of fine restaurants, per capita than its population would suggest. The restaurants are located throughout the city and the adjacent suburban villages. A trip to the nearby city of Momence can also reward the traveler looking for fine dining.

Interstate Highway 57 Exit 308

• The Great American Grill at the Hilton Garden Inn, 455 Riverstone Parkway (just north of the Interstate 57 Exit 308), 815-932-4444. Carlos Chagoya, Kankakee's foremost chef, is the Executive Chef. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served.

Illinois Route 17

• Poor Boy Restaurant, 1514 East Court, ☏ +1 815-939-1880. Street, offers fast food: American, Greek, and Mexican. Drive west from I-57 Exit 312. 

Central Business District

• Johnny's Pizza, 265 South Schuyler Avenue, ☏ +1 815-939-2333. Offers pasta, soups, sandwiches, salads, and pizza, a rich and varied Italian cuisine. Open for lunch and again for dinner, but sometimes closed in mid-afternoon. Drive north from I-57 Exit 308, South Schuyler Avenue; or drive west from I-57 Exit 312 Court Street, then left into South Schuyler Avenue. 

• Lori's Diner, 364 East Court, ☏ +1 815-939-3790. Street, offers home style cooking. Open for breakfast and lunch. Drive west from I-57 Exit 312 on Illinois 17, Court Street. 

• Soul Da Soul Barbeque Restaurant, 559 East Court, ☏ +1 815-932-3663. Street, barbeque. Drive west from I-57 Exit 312, Court Street. 

• 5 Wings Buffalo Style, 545 South Washington, 815-212-7840, chicken wings, and only chicken wings. On routes 45/52, just north of the river. Very small, white trailer. Walk-up/Carry-out only, no tables. Known for the multiple flavors available: Mild, Medium, Hot, X-treme, lemon peppered, italian, honey BBQ, hickory smoked, sweet & sour, teriyaki, "Mama's Fried", and more. Slogan: "More Flavors Than Life Savers"

West Kankakee

• Blue's Cafe, 1190 West Station Street, ☏ +1 815-933-5315. Offers a fine selection of home cooking and the best pie in the Kankakee Area. 

Drink

Central Business District

• Out on a Limb, 139 South Schuyler Avenue, ☏ +1 815-939-9421. Is attractive and unique. 

Sleep

• Hilton Garden Inn, 455 Riverstone Parkway (just north of the Interstate 57 Exit 308), 815-932-4444, . The city's finest inn, this is a modern new house with all sorts of conveniences. The guest rooms have refrigerators, irons and ironing boards, king size beds or two double beds, and work desks with speakerphones and high speed wireless Internet connections with remote printing available from the rooms to a 24-hour Business Center. The Riverstone Conference Center is available for banquets and various events.

Learn

Kankakee is the home of Olivet Nazarene University, located in the suburban Village of Bourbonnais.

Kankakee Community College is located in Kankakee.

Stay healthy

The Kankakee area is served by Provena St. Mary's Hospital, 500 West Court Street, Kankakee, and the Riverside Medical Center, 350 North Wall Street, Kankakee.

Go next

The City nearest to Kankakee is Manteno, population about 6,000, also located in Kankakee County. Kankakee suburbs include the Villages of Aroma Park, Bradley, Bourbonnais, Momence, Limestone and Sun River Terrace. Other nearby Villages include Herscher, Grant Park, Hopkins Park, Bonfield, Union Hill, and St. Anne, all in Kankakee County. Chebanse is located in Kankakee County and neighboring Iroquois County, Clifton is located in Iroquois County, as is Gilman; and Reddick is located in Kankakee County and neighboring Livingston County.

Routes through Kankakee

END ← Chicago ←	N  S	→ Champaign → Memphis
END ← Chicago ←	N  S	→ Gilman → Champaign
Chicago ← Bradley ←	N  S	→ Gilman → Champaign
Tinley Park ← Bradley ←	N  S	→ Gilman → Urbana
Joliet ← Bradley ←	W  E	→ Kentland → Lafayette
New Boston ← Dwight ←	W  E	→ Momence → Valparaiso