Origin
Malta, IL
Late night in Malta on Tuesday
Local time
5:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Malta, IL to Rockford, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
37.9 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Malta, IL
Pho Tomass
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 37.9-mile drive from Malta to Rockford, Illinois, can easily be completed in about 49 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-39, with portions of IL-38 and the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. With only a 72% highway share, you'll experience a blend of faster-paced travel and local road cruising. Budgeting around $6 for fuel should be sufficient for this short journey. Since it's a quick trip within the Midwest, no overnight stay is necessary, offering flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 19.1 mi | 20m |
| IL 38 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| IL-38 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Adams Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 19.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Malta, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Adams Street
2
Turn right onto CH 6
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 38
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
IL 38
4
Continue on IL-38
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
IL-38
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
6
Merge onto I 39; US 51
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 39; US 51
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
8
Merge onto US 20
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward IL 2: Rockford, Dixon
10
Keep slight right at fork
281 ft
·
6 sec
11
Turn straight onto IL 2
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
South Main Street
12
Turn right onto West State Street
148 ft
·
4 sec
·
West State Street
13
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Malta, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 34.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 6 / 2nd Street
Turn right onto CH 6 / 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IL 38
At end of road, turn left onto IL 38
Navigation decision point
5
28.1 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
5
33.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward IL 2: Rockford, Dixon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 2: Rockford, Dixon
4
34.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.93 one way
$11.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.51 | $13.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.29 | $14.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Cherry Valley, IL
19 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
49m 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 highway-focused experience for a significant portion of this 37.9-mile route, with 72% of the drive on interstates and major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.1 miles on I-39, offering a period of consistent speed. As you transition between I-39, IL-38, and the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, the driving character will shift, moving from the efficiency of the interstate to the more local feel of the other roads. This mix means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the entire 49-minute journey.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.1 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and IL 38. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CH 6 / 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 37.9 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (CH 6 / 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (IL 38): Navigation decision point; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Malta, IL to Rockford, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Dixon along the way.
Dixon
33.9 mi in
|
~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 37.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.1 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.
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 (CH 6 / 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (IL 38): Navigation decision point; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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