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Trip from Creve Coeur, IL to Rockford, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 53m

Distance

145.4 mi

234 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

10 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 43m ★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m

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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village in Illinois, United States

Creve Coeur, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Rockford, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Creve Coeur, IL to Rockford, IL covers 145.4 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 39, County Road 1400 East, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.8 miles on I 39. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.73 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

72.7 miles from Creve Coeur, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 39 59.8 mi 1h 4m
County Road 1400 East 17.8 mi 20m
I 80 17.4 mi 18m
South 4th Street 9.1 mi 10m
I 180 8.9 mi 9m
North Galena Road 7.6 mi 11m
North State Route 29 6.1 mi 7m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway 4.7 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 39 — 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Creve Coeur, IL and Rockford, IL.

1

Start on South Creve Coeur Avenue

355 ft · 11 sec · South Creve Coeur Avenue
2

Turn right onto Rusche Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Rusche Street
3

Continue on Pekin Avenue

1.4 mi · 3 min · Pekin Avenue
4

Turn right onto IL 8; IL 116; IL 29

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
5

Turn left onto IL 29

1.6 mi · 2 min · IL 29
Toward I 74 West
6

Take the exit onto IL 29

0.2 mi · 24 sec · IL 29
Toward IL 29 North: Downtown Peoria
7

Turn right onto IL 29

2.5 mi · 4 min · Northeast Adams Street
8

Continue on IL 29

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Northeast Adams Street
9

Continue on IL 29

7.1 mi · 10 min · North Galena Road
10

Keep slight left at fork

321 ft · 4 sec
11

Keep slight right at fork

148 ft · 2 sec
12

Continue on IL 29

0.4 mi · 35 sec · North Galena Road
13

Continue on IL 29

6.1 mi · 7 min · North State Route 29
14

Continue on IL 29

9.1 mi · 10 min · South 4th Street
15

Continue on IL 29

1.1 mi · 1 min · Railroad Street
16

Continue on IL 29

18 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400 East
17

Merge onto I 180

8.9 mi · 9 min · I 180
18

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
19

Merge onto I 80

17 mi · 18 min · I 80
20

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 79B Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
21

Merge onto I 39; US 51

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 39; US 51
22

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min
Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
23

Merge onto US 20

4.7 mi · 5 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
24

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward IL 2: Rockford, Dixon
25

Keep slight right at fork

281 ft · 6 sec
26

Turn straight onto IL 2

3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street
27

Turn right onto West State Street

148 ft · 4 sec · West State Street
28

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.7 miles from Creve Coeur, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 32 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.7 miles or 1h 30m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 21m

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 Creve Coeur, 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 Creve Coeur, IL

This is one driving day of about 145.4 miles and 2h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Creve Coeur, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 39 for about 59.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village mostly in Woodford County, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washburn, IL

73 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

Washburn, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

La Salle, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.7 miles from Creve Coeur, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Eggcellent Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

East Peoria, Illinois

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13096431218

Visit website

The 520 Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

East Peoria, Illinois

1.9 mi

Acres Bistro

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rochelle, Illinois

2.5 mi

Eggcellent Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13096431218

Visit website

The 520 Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+13098391416

Visit website

Acres Bistro

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 114.2

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18157628212

Thyme Craft Kitchen

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 72.7

Peru, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18157808774

Visit website

Haze Smokehouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 72.7

La Salle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18157808374

Visit website

Country House Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 72.7

La Salle, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18154105054

Visit website

Luna

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 114.2

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18155612727

Visit website

Uptown Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 72.7

La Salle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18152244545

Visit website

Babs Brew

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 72.7

Peru, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

Visit website

The Daily Grind Specialty Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 72.7

Spring Valley, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18156640084

Visit website

The Library Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 51.9

Princeton, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+18158751331

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Peoria, Illinois

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 10.4

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Holiday Inn Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

East Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Peoria, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13094948850

Visit website

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Willow Creek Rest Area - Northbound

0.1 mi from route

Sapp Brothers Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Willow Creek Rest Area - Southbound

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.3 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.4 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.5 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.6 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.8 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.3 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.5 mi from route

Flight Deck A Global Inspired Pub

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 114.2

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18155613664

Visit website

Spratt's Tap

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 51.9

Hennepin, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+18159259100

Visit website

Silver Dome

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 51.9

DePue, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+18154472198

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 135.6 — 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 | Rusche Street

Turn right onto Rusche Street

Navigation decision point

6
14 mi into trip | ~23m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
57.5 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Joliet

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 80 East: Joliet
6
75.2 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Take the exit toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 79B Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
5
135.6 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in

Take the exit toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.73 one way

$45.46 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.96 $49.92
premium $4.89 $27.98 $55.96
diesel $5.61 $32.10 $64.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

East Peoria, Illinois

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

East Peoria, Illinois

Tesla

1 DCFC

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

East Peoria, Illinois

Other

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Peoria, Illinois

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Peoria, Illinois

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Destination Charger

Peoria, Illinois

Tesla Destination

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Pekin, Illinois

EV Connect

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

North Pekin, Illinois

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Other: 4 ChargePoint: 3 Tesla: 1 Tesla Destination: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.6 0 $15.27 $6.98
Efficient EV 36.4 0 $12.72 $5.82
EV Truck/SUV 58.2 0 $20.36 $9.31

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 as of Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Creve Coeur, IL

Morning in Creve Coeur on Sunday

Local time

9:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rockford, IL

Morning in Rockford on Sunday

Local time

9:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Chance Rain And Snow Showers

WNW 5 to 15 mph 35% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 7:49AM CDT until April 20 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 5:01AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

73°F

Washburn, IL

73 mi in

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 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 53m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

145.4 mi in 2h 53m, mostly highway — 59.8 mi of that is on I 39.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on I 39.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and County Road 1400 East. 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 Rusche 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 17 significant decision points across 145.4 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 0.1 miles (Rusche Street): Navigation decision point; at 14 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 57.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 145.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. 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 (Rusche Street): Navigation decision point; at 14 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 57.5 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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