BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Kankakee to Chicago

Overall Route Description
As we leave Kankakee and head toward downtown Chicago, you'll be surprised the country's third largest metropolitan area is so close. Even as things get more congested and the traffic naturally becomes heavier, we will travel through some surprisingly scenic and well-maintained south suburbs along an easy to follow route with low traffic. You'll also see quite a bit of the infrastructure that has made Chicago one of the world's leading industrial cities.

Even though you're cycling across Illinois, you will have the option of briefly crossing over the Indiana border and taking a picture at the "Welcome to Indiana" sign. This option only adds 0.5 miles onto the main route, and the century options do not depend on whether you decide to do it or not. You could literally be cycling in two states at once!

As we travel through the city of Chicago we'll follow the world famous lakefront path directly along Lake Michigan. One of the most amazing things you will ever see is when you catch your first view of the Chicago’s awe inspiring skyscrapers and beautiful lakefront and know that your goal is in sight!

Finally, you will end your journey at Northerly Island in downtown Chicago, once a metropolitan airport but now transformed into a scenic nature preserve with one of the best views of Chicago’s skyline anywhere (see our title banner above)! Northerly Island is a perfect ending point because you will arrive in directly off the Lakefront bike path and not have to bike in the traffic of downtown Chicago at all. You won't feel rushed at all and there will actually be very few people walking by so you won't need to worry about theft. Northerly Island is easily accessible from Lake Shore Drive by friends and family for baggage pick ups, parking will be available, and your baggage will be laid out and ready for you to pick up. It is also within easy biking distance of our supported services and faciltiies downtown, and bathrooms will be available.

Century Option
The century options from Kankakee to Chicago get a little more confusing and depend on whether or not you will be continuing on the Tri-State Tour the next day.

If you are not continuing on the Tri-State Tour you will arrive at the ending location at Northerly Island in downtown Chicago and do a loop up and down the beautiful Lakefront path along Lake Michigan in Chicago to complete the century.

If you are continuing on the Tri-State Tour, you will arrive at the ending location at Northerly Island and bike back to the third rest stop at Wm. Powers Recreation Area (Wolf Lake). You will then bike to the Hammond hotel from there. And don’t worry, you’ll ride up the beautiful Lakefront path beyond Northerly Island the next day as part of the Tri-State Tour.

Satellite Imagery Overlay

Click Here for all rest stops overlaid on satellite imagery.

RIDE ITINERARY

All Participants:

Rest Stop 1 Peotone Community Park Peotone, IL

Rest Stop 2 Allemong Park Matteson, IL

Rest Stop 3 - Lunch William W. Powers (Wolf Lake) State Recreation Area Chicago, IL Lunch will be served at the following cumulative mileage: 65.0 miles if you departed from the main lodging site 64.5 miles if you departed from the supported hotel

Not Continuing on the Tri-State Tour

Rest Stop 4 - Ending Location Northerly Island 1400 S. Lynn White Dr. Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 745-2910

Continuing on the Tri-State Tour

Arrive at Hammond Hotel Quality Inn 4000 S. Calumet Ave. Hammond, IN 46320 (219) 931-0900 We will not have a supported rest stop at the Hammond Hotel. You should replenish yourself with snacks and sports drinks at the rest stop at Wolf Lake.

Route Profile Data

Each Ride Segment

Ride Segment Summary

Every Potential Route

Arrival at ending location in Chicago:

Arrival at Hammond hotel: