Trip from Rockford, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 25m

Distance

68.7 mi

110 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 19m ★

6 AM

1h 26m

8 AM

1h 39m

10 AM

1h 30m

12 PM

1h 29m

3 PM

1h 31m

5 PM

1h 38m

8 PM

1h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Rockford, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Des Plaines, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Rockford, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 68.7 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 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, West State Street, Charles Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.4 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.74 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

34.3 miles from Rockford, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 25m drive with frequent turns across 68.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 23 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 55.4 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 8.8 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 68.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8.8 mi into trip | ~16m 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.

28.6 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

64.3 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward Elmhurst Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 73 Toward Elmhurst Road

64.7 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Elmhurst Road North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward Elmhurst Road North

65.1 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | West Oakton Street

Turn right onto West Oakton Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Rockford, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.

Elmhurst Road North

64.7 mi in | ~1h 16m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway	55.4 mi	59m
West State Street	3.4 mi	6m
Charles Street	2.8 mi	5m
East Oakton Street	1.4 mi	2m
West Oakton Street	1 mi	1m
South Alpine Road	1 mi	2m
Harrison Avenue	0.6 mi	1m
East Algonquin Road	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 55.4 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rockford, IL and Des Plaines, IL.

Start on West State Street

3.4 mi · 6 min · West State Street

Turn right onto South Alpine Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Alpine Road

Continue on South Alpine Road

359 ft · 14 sec · South Alpine Road

Turn right

87 ft · 3 sec

Turn right onto Charles Street

2.8 mi · 5 min · Charles Street

Turn right onto South Mall Drive

388 ft · 19 sec · South Mall Drive

Turn left onto Harrison Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Harrison Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Merge onto I 39; US 51

0.2 mi · 11 sec · I 39; US 51

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 East: Chicago

Merge onto I 90

20 mi · 21 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

36 mi · 38 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec

Exit 73 Toward Elmhurst Road Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

288 ft · 9 sec

Toward Elmhurst Road North Use the slight left lane.

Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road

0.4 mi · 42 sec · South Elmhurst Road

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Turn right onto West Oakton Street

0.1 mi · 12 sec · West Oakton Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on West Oakton Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Oakton Street

Continue on East Oakton Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Oakton Street

Turn left onto US 12; US 45

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Lee Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto East Algonquin Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Algonquin Road

Turn left onto White Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · White Street

Turn right onto Henry Avenue

262 ft · 11 sec · Henry Avenue

Arrive at destination

Henry Avenue

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 34.3 miles from Rockford, IL, or about 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 68.7 miles or 1h 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 34.3 miles or 44m 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 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Plaines, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL

This is one driving day of about 68.7 miles and 1h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rockford, 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 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 55.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 34.3 mi from Rockford, IL · 44m into the drive

city in Cook and Kane counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Illinois

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elgin, IL

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

Palatine, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 68.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elgin, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from Rockford, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Des Plaines, IL

The final approach into Des Plaines, 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 Des Plaines, 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

$10.74 one way

$21.48 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$11.79	$23.59
premium	$4.89	$13.22	$26.44
diesel	$5.61	$15.17	$30.34

Estimated Tolls: $3.88

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (55.4 mi) $3.88

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

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	20.6	$7.21	$3.30
Efficient EV	17.2	$6.01	$2.75
EV Truck/SUV	27.5	$9.62	$4.40

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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Rockford, IL

Late night in Rockford on Wednesday

Local time

5:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 15 mph 40% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 2:54PM EDT until April 14 at 4:46AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Des Plaines, IL

Late night in Des Plaines on Wednesday

Local time

5:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 35% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 2:54PM EDT until April 14 at 4:46AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

1 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 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 Rockford, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 68.7 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 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, West State Street, Charles Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 34.3 miles from Rockford, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.74 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.

On the drive from Rockford, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road North along the way.

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Return Trip

Des Plaines, IL to Rockford, IL

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69.2 mi 1h 24m

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Trip from Rockford, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Des Plaines, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rockford, IL

Des Plaines, IL

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 25m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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