Origin
University Park, IL
Morning in University Park on Thursday
Local time
11:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from University Park, IL to Rockford, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
105.4 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University Park, IL
Quang Vuong
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from University Park, IL to Rockford, IL covers 105.4 miles and takes about 2h 9m 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, Tri-State Tollway, East State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.8 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.48 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
52.7 miles from University Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 105.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 9m drive with frequent turns across 105.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 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 61.8 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 24.5 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 105.4 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 24.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
24.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
34.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40
Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International A...
7
35.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chi...
7
35.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
6
36.3 mi into trip
|
~49m 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.
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 University Park, IL to Rockford, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
34.9 mi in
|
~46m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 61.8 mi | 1h 6m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 33.1 mi | 41m |
| East State Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West 159th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Richmond Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Sussex Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Wyman Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 61.8 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Park, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on Lancaster Drive
130 ft
·
11 sec
·
Lancaster Drive
2
Turn left onto California Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
California Avenue
3
Continue on Sussex Avenue
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Sussex Avenue
4
Turn right onto Richmond Avenue
279 ft
·
12 sec
·
Richmond Avenue
5
Continue on Richmond Avenue
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Richmond Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West 159th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
9
Merge onto I 294
23 mi
·
28 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 40
Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 90
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
18
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Street
19
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
20
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Wyman Street
21
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West State Street
22
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 52.7 miles from University Park, IL, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.7 miles or 1h 7m 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 43m
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 University Park, 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 University Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 105.4 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from University Park, 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 61.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.7 mi from University Park, IL · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.7 miles from University Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Jane Addams Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 miles.
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
$16.48 one way
$32.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.09 | $36.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.28 | $40.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.27 | $46.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.30
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(61.6 mi)
$4.31
Tri-state Tollway
(33.1 mi)
$1.99
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
$16
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.07 | $5.06 |
| Efficient EV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.22 | $4.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.76 | $6.75 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Rockford, IL
Morning in Rockford on Thursday
Local time
11:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
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
2h 9m 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 University Park, IL to Rockford, IL covers 105.4 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Tri-State Tollway, East State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.7 miles from University Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.48 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 17 significant decision points across 105.4 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 24.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from University Park, IL to Rockford, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
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