Origin
Lake Catherine, IL
Late night in Lake Catherine on Wednesday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Catherine, IL to Rockford, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
58 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Catherine, IL
Sean Ewing
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Catherine, IL to Rockford, IL covers 58 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kenosha Street, West Brink Street, North 2nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on Kenosha Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.07 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
29 miles from Lake Catherine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 25m drive with frequent turns across 58 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kenosha Street is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 26.6 miles in near US 14; IL 173 / North Division Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Lake Catherine, IL to Rockford, IL is easy. At 1h 25m with 16% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.6 miles (US 14; IL 173 / North Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles (IL 173 / West Brink Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.9 miles (IL 251 / North 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
26.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 14; IL 173 / North Division Street
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173 / North Division Street
Navigation decision point
4
27.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
IL 173 / West Brink Street
Turn right onto IL 173 / West Brink Street
Navigation decision point
4
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
IL 251 / North 2nd Street
Turn left onto IL 251 / North 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
US 20 Business / East Jefferson Street
Turn right onto US 20 Business / East Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
North Wyman Street
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kenosha Street | 18.8 mi | 26m |
| West Brink Street | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| North 2nd Street | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| State Route 173 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| West Lane Road | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| West IL Route 173 | 4 mi | 5m |
| Kenosha Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| North Division Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kenosha Street
— 18.8 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Catherine, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on IL 173
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West IL Route 173
2
Continue on IL 173
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Kenosha Road
3
Continue on IL 173
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Kenosha Street
4
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Division Street
5
Turn right onto IL 173
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Brink Street
6
Continue on IL 173
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 173
7
Continue on IL 173
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
West Lane Road
8
Turn left onto IL 251
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
10
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Wyman Street
11
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West State Street
12
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 29 miles from Lake Catherine, IL, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.8 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 58 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29 miles or 41m 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 11m
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 Lake Catherine, 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 Lake Catherine, IL
This is one driving day of about 58 miles and 1h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Catherine, 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.
The longest stretch is on Kenosha Street for about 18.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29 mi from Lake Catherine, IL · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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
$9.07 one way
$18.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.96 | $19.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.16 | $22.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.81 | $25.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.12 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Late night in Rockford on Wednesday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph
49% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
5 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 25m 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 Lake Catherine, IL to Rockford, IL covers 58 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kenosha Street, West Brink Street, North 2nd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29 miles from Lake Catherine, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.07 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 Lake Catherine, IL to Rockford, IL is easy. At 1h 25m with 16% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.6 miles (US 14; IL 173 / North Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles (IL 173 / West Brink Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.9 miles (IL 251 / North 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lake Catherine, IL to Rockford, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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