Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
69.2 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
This 69.2-mile drive from Des Plaines, IL, to Rockford, IL, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 24 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily navigate via the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with some local road sections like East State Street and East Oakton Street as you approach Rockford. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick Midwest journey. The overall feel is that of a practical, direct connection between two Illinois locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 57.4 mi | 1h 1m |
| East State Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| East Oakton Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Oakton Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Algonquin Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lee Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Elmhurst Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Rockford, IL.
Start on Henry Avenue
Turn left onto White Street
At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
Turn left onto US 12; US 45
Turn right onto East Oakton Street
Continue on West Oakton Street
Turn left onto South Elmhurst Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
Turn right onto US 20 Business
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
Turn right onto West State Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 34.6 miles from Des Plaines, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto White Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 20 Business, State Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.82 one way
$21.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.32 | $26.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.28 | $30.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$4
Total
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.27 | $3.32 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Des Plaines on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Rockford on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
49°F
Coral, IL
35 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" profile for this approximately 1 hour and 24 minute journey. While a significant portion, the longest uninterrupted stretch of 57.4 miles, is on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, you'll also encounter local roads. The highway share is 0%, indicating that while you might use tollways, the final approach and potentially earlier segments involve more conventional city and suburban streets. This means you'll likely experience more frequent turns and varying speed limits as you transition from highway to local driving.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near White Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Founded 1852
Des Plaines is in Chicagoland. It is an inner-ring, northwest suburb of Chicago with two distinct portions: a suburban northern portion reminiscient of other, nearby northwest suburbs (including Niles, Park Ridge, and Mount Prospect), as well as a built-up southern portion with the businesses, hotels, and other amenities of the O'Hare Airport corridor (much like Rosemont, Chicago's O'Hare neighborhood, and Elk Grove Village).
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 69.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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