Origin
Glendale Heights, IL
Morning in Glendale Heights on Monday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
75.9 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale Heights, IL
Choco Kitty
Trip Overview
The drive from Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL covers 75.9 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Winthrop Avenue, Glen Ellyn Road, East Army Trail Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.53 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
38 miles from Glendale Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 75.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Winthrop Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Winthrop Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Glen Ellyn Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Army Trail Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bloomingdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Lake Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lake Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 59 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Sutton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Winthrop Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale Heights, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on Highland Avenue
82 ft
·
11 sec
·
Highland Avenue
2
Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Winthrop Avenue
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Glen Ellyn Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Glen Ellyn Road
4
Turn left onto East Army Trail Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Army Trail Road
5
Turn right onto Bloomingdale Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Bloomingdale Road
6
Turn left onto West Lake Street
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
West Lake Street
7
Continue on Lake Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
8
Continue on West Lake Street
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Lake Street
9
Take the exit slight right toward IL 59: Barrington, West Chicago
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
IL 59: Barrington, West Chicago
10
Turn left onto South Sutton Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Sutton Road
11
Continue on New Sutton Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
New Sutton Road
12
Take the ramp right toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 90 West Toll: Rockford
13
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
44 mi
·
47 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 Business, State Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 20 Business, State Street
15
Keep slight right
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
16
Turn straight onto East State Street
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Street
17
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
18
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Wyman Street
19
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West State Street
20
Arrive at your destination
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 38 miles from Glendale Heights, IL, or about 39m into the drive.
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 75.9 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 39m 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 6m
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 Glendale Heights, 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 Glendale Heights, IL
This is one driving day of about 75.9 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Glendale Heights, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38 mi from Glendale Heights, IL · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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
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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.53 one way
$23.06 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $12.71 | $25.42 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.86 | $33.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.97 | $3.64 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.63 | $4.86 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Morning in Rockford on Monday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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 18m 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 Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL covers 75.9 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Winthrop Avenue, Glen Ellyn Road, East Army Trail Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38 miles from Glendale Heights, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.53 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.
The drive from Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Glendale Heights, IL to Rockford, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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