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Trip from Rockford, IL to Park Ridge, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 27m

Distance

70.5 mi

113 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 21m ★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 24m

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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Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Rockford, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Park Ridge, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Rockford, IL to Park Ridge, IL covers 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 27m 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, East Touhy Avenue 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 $11.02 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

35.2 miles from Rockford, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 27m drive with frequent turns across 70.5 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.
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 4.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 70.5 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 4.4 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

4
4.4 mi into trip | ~8m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

5
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.
6
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.
7
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
7
64.7 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Elmhurst Road South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Elmhurst Road South

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 Park Ridge, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road South along the way.

Elmhurst Road South

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
East Touhy Avenue 2.9 mi 5m
Charles Street 2.8 mi 5m
West Touhy Avenue 2.3 mi 3m
South Alpine Road 1 mi 2m
Harrison Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
South Elmhurst Road 0.6 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 Park Ridge, IL.

1

Start on West State Street

3.4 mi · 6 min · West State Street
2

Turn right onto South Alpine Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Alpine Road
3

Continue on South Alpine Road

359 ft · 14 sec · South Alpine Road
4

Turn right

87 ft · 3 sec
5

Turn right onto Charles Street

2.8 mi · 5 min · Charles Street
6

Turn right onto South Mall Drive

388 ft · 19 sec · South Mall Drive
7

Turn left onto Harrison Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Harrison Avenue
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
9

Merge onto I 39; US 51

0.2 mi · 11 sec · I 39; US 51
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
11

Merge onto I 90

20 mi · 21 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

36 mi · 38 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Exit 73 Toward Elmhurst Road Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

340 ft · 8 sec
Toward Elmhurst Road South Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Elmhurst Road
16

Turn left onto IL 72

2.3 mi · 3 min · West Touhy Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on East Touhy Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · East Touhy Avenue
18

Turn left onto North Greenwood Avenue

92 ft · 4 sec · North Greenwood Avenue
19

Turn right

24 ft · 1 sec
20

Arrive at 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 35.2 miles from Rockford, IL, or about 45m 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 70.5 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 35.2 miles or 45m 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 Park Ridge, 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 70.5 miles and 1h 27m.

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 35.2 mi from Rockford, IL · 45m 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

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Des Plaines, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 70.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elgin, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.2 miles from Rockford, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Park Ridge, IL

The final approach into Park Ridge, 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 Park Ridge, 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

$11.02 one way

$22.04 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.10 $24.20
premium $4.89 $13.57 $27.13
diesel $5.61 $15.57 $31.13

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

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.2 0 $7.40 $3.38
Efficient EV 17.6 0 $6.17 $2.82
EV Truck/SUV 28.2 0 $9.87 $4.51

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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 23 hours ago

Origin

Rockford, IL

Late night in Rockford on Wednesday

Local time

5:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

NNE 10 mph 75% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Park Ridge, IL

Late night in Park Ridge on Wednesday

Local time

5:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°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

7 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 27m 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 Park Ridge, IL covers 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 27m 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, East Touhy Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.2 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 $11.02 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 70.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.4 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.
On the drive from Rockford, IL to Park Ridge, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elmhurst Road South along the way.

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