Origin
Vernon Hills, IL
Morning in Vernon Hills on Monday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
78 mi
126 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 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vernon Hills, IL
Chris Flaten
Trip Overview
The drive from Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Westmoreland Drive, RT 83, Highway 83 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.85 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
39 miles from Vernon Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 24m drive with frequent turns across 78 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westmoreland Drive 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 Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL is easy. At 1h 24m 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 Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| RT 83 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 83 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 53 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Hicks Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Dundee Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Sutton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Westmoreland Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vernon Hills, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on Oakwood Road
36 ft
·
4 sec
·
Oakwood Road
2
Turn right onto Westmoreland Drive
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Westmoreland Drive
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto IL RT 83
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IL RT 83
4
Continue on State Highway 83
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 83
5
Turn slight right
180 ft
·
7 sec
6
Turn right onto North State Route 53
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Route 53
7
Continue on North Hicks Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Hicks Road
8
Turn right onto East Dundee Road
7.9 mi
·
12 min
·
East Dundee Road
9
Continue on New Sutton Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
New Sutton Road
10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 90 West Toll: Rockford
11
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
44 mi
·
46 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 Business, State Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 20 Business, State Street
13
Keep slight right
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
14
Turn straight onto East State Street
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Street
15
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
16
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Wyman Street
17
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West State Street
18
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 39 miles from Vernon Hills, IL, or about 42m 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 78 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 42m 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 Vernon Hills, 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 Vernon Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 78 miles and 1h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Vernon Hills, 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 39 mi from Vernon Hills, IL · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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
$11.85 one way
$23.69 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.06 | $26.12 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.72 | $29.45 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.33 | $34.66 |
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: 27.3 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 | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.92 | $4.99 |
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
9:43 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
7 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 24m 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 Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westmoreland Drive, RT 83, Highway 83. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39 miles from Vernon Hills, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.85 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 Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL is easy. At 1h 24m 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 Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Vernon Hills, IL to Rockford, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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