Origin
Chatham, IL
Late night in Chatham on Wednesday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chatham, IL to Rockford, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 29, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
95.5 mi
154 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chatham, IL
Quang Vuong
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Chatham, IL to Rockford, IL is 95.5 miles and takes about 2h 4m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Most of the drive is on surface roads, but you'll encounter some limited-access highways. Plan for a straightforward trip that should be manageable for a single day, with a reasonable duration and fuel cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Chatham, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 61.5 mi | 1h 6m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| East State Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| West Higgins Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West Bryn Mawr Avenue | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North Milwaukee Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 6m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,925 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,444 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chatham, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on this road
315 ft
·
28 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East 84th Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
East 84th Street
3
Turn right onto South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive
4
Turn left onto East 83rd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 83rd Street
5
Turn right onto South State Street
109 ft
·
2 sec
·
South State Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 94 West
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 94 West
8
Merge onto I 94
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 90; I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 43C
Toward Montrose Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
13
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
14
Turn left onto North Northwest Highway
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Northwest Highway
15
Continue on North Northwest Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Northwest Highway
16
Turn slight left onto West Bryn Mawr Avenue
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on IL 72
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
West Higgins Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West
19
Merge onto I 90
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
22
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Street
23
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
24
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Wyman Street
25
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West State Street
26
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 4 minutes, you can comfortably depart anytime during the day. There are no recommended stops, so you can drive straight through or take a brief pause as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $15 for the 95.5-mile trip. Since the drive is under three hours, you have flexibility to adjust your schedule. A practical tip is to be aware of potential traffic delays on the expressways, especially during peak commuting times.
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 47.7 miles from Chatham, IL, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 21 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 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 40m
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 Chatham, 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 Chatham, IL
This is one driving day of about 95.5 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Chatham, 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 61.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.7 miles from Chatham, 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 61.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 18.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 84th Street
Turn left onto East 84th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Turn right onto South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 West
8
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
7
18.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward Montrose Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43C
Toward Montrose Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.92 one way
$29.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.37 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
| premium | $4.88 | $18.34 | $36.68 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $20.12 | $40.24 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.31
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(61.5 mi)
$4.31
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
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-27.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.03 | $4.58 |
| Efficient EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.36 | $3.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.37 | $6.11 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Late night in Rockford on Wednesday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
4 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
2h 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads for 82% of the drive. You'll experience about 18% on highways, including stretches on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Kennedy Expressway, and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). The longest continuous highway segment is 61.5 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Expect to navigate urban merging and dense exits as you approach and travel through built-up areas.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.1 miles in near East 84th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 95.5 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 0.1 miles (East 84th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting in Chatham, IL
Full guide →Arriving in Rockford, IL
Full guide →Founded 1852
Rockford is a city in the Rock River Valley in Northern Illinois. With a population of over 145,000 (2019), it is the third largest city in the state.
Top landmarks
- • Kenneth and Phyllis Laurent House — Usonian house
- • Herrick Cobblestone — house in Rockford, Illinois, USA
- • Haight Village Historic District — park in the United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 95.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.31 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rockford, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 84th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rockford, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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