Origin
Dixon, IL
Morning in Dixon on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dixon, 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 9m
Distance
42.1 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dixon, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Dixon and Rockford, this 41.7-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Illinois Midwest. You can easily complete the trip in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel is sufficient for the transit, and since there are no mandatory stops required, you can finish the drive in one consistent push. Because the route stays entirely within the state of Illinois, you will not encounter any regional shifts or complex logistics. This simple, local connection is ideal if you need a reliable way to navigate between these two communities without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 4th Street | 21.8 mi | 33m |
| East River Road | 14.6 mi | 24m |
| South Main Street | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| South Galena Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Timber Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South 4th Street
— 21.8 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dixon, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on East 6th Street
282 ft
·
14 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto US 52; IL 26
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Galena Avenue
3
Turn right onto IL 2
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
East 2nd Street
4
Continue on IL 2
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Timber Lane
5
Continue on IL 2
15 mi
·
24 min
·
East River Road
6
Continue on IL 2
22 mi
·
33 min
·
South 4th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn left onto IL 2
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Main Street
8
Turn right onto West State Street
148 ft
·
4 sec
·
West State Street
9
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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Dixon, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 42 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue
Turn right onto US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 2 / East 2nd Street
Turn right onto IL 2 / East 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
3
37.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
IL 2 / South Main Street
Turn left onto IL 2 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
42 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
West State Street
Turn right onto West State Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.58 one way
$13.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.23 | $14.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.10 | $16.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 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 | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
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
Morning in Rockford on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Byron, IL
21 mi in
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
1 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 9m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience. You will navigate via South Galena Avenue, East 2nd Street, and Timber Lane, staying entirely off major highways for the duration of the trip. With a highway share of 0%, this route demands your full attention as you move through local corridors. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on South Galena Avenue, the road requires frequent adjustments and consistent navigation. It is a practical, hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network from start to finish.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.8 mi on South 4th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Dixon, IL to Rockford, IL is easy. At 1h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 2 / East 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.5 miles (IL 2 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
786 ft
668 ft
Total Climb
260 ft
Total Descent
221 ft
Highest Point
786 ft
~3 mi in
Elevation Range
119 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 42.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.8 miles on South 4th Street. 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 0.1 miles (US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 2 / East 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.5 miles (IL 2 / South Main Street): 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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