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Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
69.2 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 69.2-mile drive from Des Plaines, IL, to Rockford, IL, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 24 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily navigate via the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with some local road sections like East State Street and East Oakton Street as you approach Rockford. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick Midwest journey. The overall feel is that of a practical, direct connection between two Illinois locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
34.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
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Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" profile for this approximately 1 hour and 24 minute journey. While a significant portion, the longest uninterrupted stretch of 57.4 miles, is on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, you'll also encounter local roads. The highway share is 0%, indicating that while you might use tollways, the final approach and potentially earlier segments involve more conventional city and suburban streets. This means you'll likely experience more frequent turns and varying speed limits as you transition from highway to local driving.
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 White Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.2 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 (White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto White Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 20 Business, State Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 57.4 mi | 1h 1m |
| East State Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| East Oakton Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Oakton Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Algonquin Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lee Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Elmhurst Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Rockford, IL.
Start on Henry Avenue
Turn left onto White Street
At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
Turn left onto US 12; US 45
Turn right onto East Oakton Street
Continue on West Oakton Street
Turn left onto South Elmhurst Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
Turn right onto US 20 Business
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
Turn right onto West State Street
Arrive at destination
Given its short duration of under 1.5 hours, this drive offers great flexibility. You can leave whenever it suits you, and there's no need to plan for overnight stops. The estimated fuel cost is only $11, so you'll want to ensure you have a full tank before departing Des Plaines. While there are no specific stops mandated by the route data, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you're starting with less than a full tank. For a practical tip, be aware that the "turn-heavy local drive" profile suggests paying close attention to navigation as you get closer to Rockford, as there will be more decision points than on a pure interstate route.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 69.2 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.6 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rockford, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Des Plaines, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Plaines, IL
This is one driving day of about 69.2 miles and 1h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.6 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Rockford, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.82 one way
$21.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.32 | $26.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.28 | $30.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 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 | 20.8 | 0 | $7.27 | $3.32 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Des Plaines on Wednesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Rockford on Wednesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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