Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Evening in Elmhurst on Thursday
Local time
5:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Rockford, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
73.7 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Rockford, IL covers 73.7 miles and takes about 1h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, I 290, East State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.2 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from Elmhurst, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 73.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 73.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 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 51.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.7 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Park Avenue
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North York Street
Turn left onto North York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
11.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Ro...
6
14.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Turn left toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 51.2 mi | 54m |
| I 290 | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| East State Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| North Meacham Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North York Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Higgins Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Wyman Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 51.2 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on this road
267 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
51 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
362 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn left onto North York Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 290
10 mi
·
13 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto IL 72
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto North Meacham Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Meacham Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
51 mi
·
54 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
14
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Street
15
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
16
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Wyman Street
17
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West State Street
18
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.9 miles from Elmhurst, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.2 miles.
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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 47m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rockford, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elmhurst, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elmhurst, IL
This is one driving day of about 73.7 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Elmhurst, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 51.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.9 mi from Elmhurst, IL · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Elmhurst, 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
$11.52 one way
$23.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.18 | $28.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.27 | $32.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.58
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(51.2 mi)
$3.58
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
$12
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: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.32 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Evening in Rockford on Thursday
Local time
5:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Coral, IL
37 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Rockford, IL covers 73.7 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, I 290, East State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.9 miles from Elmhurst, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.52 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 73.7 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Elmhurst, IL to Rockford, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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