Kankakee

The Kankakee metropolitan area has a population of about 120,000. The elevation of Kankakee is a little below 700 feet aMSL.
The major industries of the Kankakee area are health care, higher education, manufacturing, and retail trade. The 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.

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, 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.
is located at 199 S E Ave.

By bus

Kankakee is served by
Greyhound Bus Lines.

By car

Kankakee is 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

• Greater Kankakee AirportGeneral aviation

By bus

Kankakee is served by the River Valley Metro Transit District. However, the arrival times are terrible, often showing up hours behind schedule. Avoid taking the bus if you can.

• B. Harley Bradley House

  phone: +1 815 9369630
  address: 701 S Harrison Ave
  Built by Frank Lloyd Wright, designed in the Prairie Style.

The Kankakee County Museum complex contains the home of former governor Len Small, a racist Democrat who was sympathetic to the KKK.

With its reputation as a City of Restaurants, this area has a greater share of restaurants, and of fine restaurants, per capita than its population would suggest. The restaurants are 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

• Great American Grill

  phone: +1 815-932-4444
  address: 455 Riverstone Parkway
  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served.

Illinois Route 17

• Poor Boy Restaurant

  address: 1514 East Court
  Street, offers fast food: American, Greek, and Mexican.

Central Business District

• Johnny's Pizza

  address: 265 South Schuyler Avenue
  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.

• Lori's Diner

  address: 364 East Court
  Street, offers home style cooking. Open for breakfast and lunch.

• Soul Da Soul Barbeque Restaurant

  address: 559 East Court
  Street, barbeque.

• 5 Wings Buffalo Style

  phone: +1 815-212-7840
  address: 545 South Washington
  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

  address: 1190 West Station Street
  Offers a fine selection of home cooking and the best pie in the area.

• Out on a Limb Bar

  phone: +1 815-939-9421
  address: 139 S Schuyler Ave
  Attractive and unique.

Many bars are in less-than-ideal neighborhoods, so keep that in mind when looking for a drink.

• 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.

Kankakee is the home of Olivet Nazarene University, in the suburban village of Bourbonnais, and Kankakee Community College.

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

The nearest town is Manteno, population about 6,000, also in Kankakee County. Kankakee's 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 in Kankakee County and neighboring Iroquois County, Clifton is in Iroquois County, as is Gilman; and Reddick is in Kankakee County and neighboring Livingston County.