Origin
Buffalo Grove, IL
Afternoon in Buffalo Grove on Friday
Local time
2:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo Grove, IL to Rockford, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
67.5 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo Grove, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 67.5-mile drive from Buffalo Grove, IL, to Rockford, IL, is a straightforward journey that takes about 1 hour and 27 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, offering a relatively quick connection between these two Midwest locations. Given its short duration and direct path, this trip is easily manageable in a single day without the need for an overnight stay. You'll find it to be a practical and efficient way to travel within Illinois.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 67.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share suggesting a more varied road experience than a typical interstate cruise. While there's a significant stretch of 43.7 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, the overall profile indicates a journey that weaves through local roads more than it sticks to high-speed limited-access highways. This means you'll likely encounter more varied speed limits and traffic patterns as you transition between the tollway and local arteries like East Dundee Road and East State Street.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 43.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Buffalo Grove Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Buffalo Grove Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lake Cook Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (Lake Cook Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Buffalo Grove Road
Turn right onto South Buffalo Grove Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lake Cook Road
Turn left onto Lake Cook Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Lake Cook Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Lake Cook Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
16.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 20 Business, State Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 43.7 mi | 46m |
| East Dundee Road | 7.9 mi | 12m |
| East State Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| Lake Cook Road | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| New Sutton Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| North Hicks Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Buffalo Grove Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 43.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo Grove, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on Aptakisic Road
60 ft
·
5 sec
·
Aptakisic Road
2
Turn right onto South Buffalo Grove Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Buffalo Grove Road
3
Turn left onto Lake Cook Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Lake Cook Road
Use the left lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Lake Cook Road
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Lake Cook Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto North Hicks Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Hicks Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto IL 68
7.9 mi
·
12 min
·
East Dundee Road
7
Continue on IL 59
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
New Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
9
Merge onto I 90
44 mi
·
46 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Street
13
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
14
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Wyman Street
15
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West State Street
16
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.8 mi from Buffalo Grove, IL · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.8 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rockford, IL
The final approach into Rockford, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.55 one way
$21.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.59 | $23.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.99 | $25.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.90 | $29.81 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.06
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(43.7 mi)
$3.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$3
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.09 | $3.24 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27 | 0 | $9.45 | $4.32 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Rockford, IL
Afternoon in Rockford on Friday
Local time
2:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Isolated Rain Showers
NW 5 to 10 mph
21% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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
1h 27m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Buffalo Grove, IL to Rockford, IL covers 67.5 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, East Dundee Road, East State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.8 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.55 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Buffalo Grove Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Lake Cook Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (Lake Cook Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Buffalo Grove, IL to Rockford, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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