Origin
Crystal Lake, IL
Late night in Crystal Lake on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crystal Lake, 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
1h 8m
Distance
42.7 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crystal Lake, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across Northern Illinois, the 42.7-mile trek from Crystal Lake to Rockford is a straightforward option. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 8 minutes on the road, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an incredibly cost-effective route for a weekend getaway or a necessary commute. You will navigate primarily via the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, IL 176, and West Grant Highway. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will enjoy a consistent regional feel throughout the journey. This drive is designed for simplicity, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 13.6 mi | 20m |
| IL 176 | 13 mi | 20m |
| West Grant Highway | 5 mi | 7m |
| East State Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Charles Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| East Crystal Lake Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South Alpine Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| IL 47 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
— 13.6 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crystal Lake, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on East Crystal Lake Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Crystal Lake Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 14
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Virginia Street
3
Turn left onto IL 176
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
IL 176
4
Turn right onto IL 47; IL 176
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 47; IL 176
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto IL 176
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
IL 176
6
At end of road, turn left onto IL 23
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
North State Street
7
Turn right onto US 20
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Grant Highway
8
Continue on US 20
13 mi
·
20 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
9
Continue on US 20
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
10
Continue on Harrison Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harrison Avenue
11
Turn right onto South Perryville Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Perryville Road
12
Turn left onto Charles Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Charles Street
13
Turn right onto South Alpine Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Alpine Road
14
Turn left onto US 20 Business
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
East State Street
15
Turn right onto US 20 Business
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 destination
West State Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Crystal Lake, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 42.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
IL 47; IL 176
Turn right onto IL 47; IL 176
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
15.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
IL 23 / North State Street
At end of road, turn left onto IL 23 / North State Street
Navigation decision point
4
16.2 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 20 / West Grant Highway
Turn right onto US 20 / West Grant Highway
Navigation decision point
4
42.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
North Wyman Street
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
Navigation decision point
4
42.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
West State Street
Turn right onto West State Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.68 one way
$13.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.22 | $16.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Rain Showers Likely
WNW 15 to 20 mph
56% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
26 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 8m 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?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps the journey engaging by transitioning between different road types. Approximately 32% of your travel occurs on highways, providing a balance between steady speeds and local navigation. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 13.6 miles along the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, which serves as the primary backbone of the route. You will find that the road changes character as you move away from the suburban environment of Crystal Lake toward the more established transit corridors leading into Rockford. Behind the wheel, you can expect a practical experience that blends short highway bursts with stretches of local roadway.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.6 mi on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near IL 47; IL 176.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (IL 47; IL 176): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (IL 23 / North State Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.2 miles (US 20 / West Grant Highway): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
910 ft
716 ft
Total Climb
173 ft
Total Descent
367 ft
Highest Point
910 ft
Elevation Range
194 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 42.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.6 miles on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (IL 47; IL 176): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (IL 23 / North State Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.2 miles (US 20 / West Grant Highway): Navigation decision point.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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