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Trip from Palos Heights, IL to Rockford, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

97.2 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 53m

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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city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Palos Heights, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Rockford, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 97.2-mile drive from Palos Heights, IL, to Rockford, IL, is a manageable 1-day trip, taking just under 2 hours to complete. You'll navigate primarily via the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and the Tri-State Tollway, with East State Street marking your final approach into Rockford. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this route offers an economical journey through the Midwest. The overall feel is that of a straightforward, local drive, making it perfect for a quick getaway or an easy commute.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

48.6 miles from Palos Heights, IL

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 61.8 mi 1h 6m
Tri-State Tollway 22 mi 27m
East State Street 6 mi 10m
Harlem Avenue 3.6 mi 5m
East Jefferson Street 0.7 mi 1m
West 95th Street 0.4 mi <1m
North Wyman Street 0.2 mi <1m
West State Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 61.8 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palos Heights, IL and Rockford, IL.

1

Start on this road

41 ft · 5 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto West 123rd Street

50 ft · 5 sec · West 123rd Street
3

Turn right onto IL 43

3.6 mi · 5 min · Harlem Avenue
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right

0.2 mi · 34 sec
5

Turn straight onto US 12; US 20

0.4 mi · 49 sec · West 95th Street
6

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto I 294

12 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

10 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 40 Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 90

0.2 mi · 12 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec
16

Turn straight onto US 20 Business

6.0 mi · 10 min · East State Street
17

Turn right onto US 20 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Jefferson Street
18

Turn left onto North Wyman Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · North Wyman Street
19

Turn right onto West State Street

75 ft · 2 sec · West State Street
20

Arrive at destination

West State Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 58-minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart. You might consider an early morning start to avoid any potential local traffic as you near Rockford. With no designated stops and a low fuel cost of $15, you can be spontaneous with breaks. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from the Tri-State Tollway onto East State Street, as this is where the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route becomes most apparent.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.6 miles from Palos Heights, IL, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 21 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.6 miles or 1h in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 34m

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 Palos Heights, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Palos Heights, IL

This is one driving day of about 97.2 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Palos Heights, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 61.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatine, IL

49 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

Lombard, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hanover Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.6 miles from Palos Heights, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Jane Addams Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 miles.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

Bootsma Bookstore Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Palos Heights, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17082393976

Harmony Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Palos Heights, Illinois

1.3 mi

Cafe Mirage

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Schiller Park, Illinois

1.9 mi

Best coffee break

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Chicago Ridge, Illinois

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+17085813915

Visit website

Bootsma Bookstore Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Palos Heights, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17082393976

Harmony Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Palos Heights, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+17086718640

Visit website

Cafe Mirage

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

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

Schiller Park, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+18476782614

Visit website

Nariman Restaurants

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Bridgeview, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+17089075832

Visit website

The Blossom Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Norridge, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17084535300

Visit website

Roma Cafe Chicago Ridge

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Chicago Ridge, Illinois

Hours: 1 pm–3 am

+17084990048

Garden Prairie Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Garden Prairie, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+18155971190

Visit website

Village Gourmet - Cafe & Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Clarendon Hills, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+16303236885

Visit website

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Chicago Ridge, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+17085813915

Visit website

Midway Village Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Rockford, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18153979112

Visit website

Prairie Trail Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Willowbrook, Illinois

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 16.3 and 28.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
16.3 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.7 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River Road

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 40 Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International A...
7
26.9 mi into trip | ~36m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chi...
7
27.1 mi into trip | ~36m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
6
28.1 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.20 one way

$30.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.68 $33.37
premium $4.89 $18.71 $37.41
diesel $5.61 $21.46 $42.92

Estimated Tolls: $5.63

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (61.6 mi) $4.31
Tri-state Tollway (22 mi) $1.32

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Tolls

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.2 0 $10.21 $4.67
Efficient EV 24.3 0 $8.50 $3.89
EV Truck/SUV 38.9 0 $13.61 $6.22

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Palos Heights, IL

Morning in Palos Heights on Tuesday

Local time

7:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

WNW 15 to 20 mph 20% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:50AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:48AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Rockford, IL

Morning in Rockford on Tuesday

Local time

7:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

13 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 58m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 97.2-mile journey, with a 0% highway share. While there are no long stretches of uninterrupted highway, the longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 61.8 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. This means you'll be adjusting your speed and direction more frequently than on a pure interstate route. The drive will likely feel more connected to the local landscape as you transition between major roadways and city streets.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.8 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.3 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 16.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

On the drive from Palos Heights, IL to Rockford, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.

Chicago

26.7 mi in | ~35m

About the Cities

Starting in Palos Heights, IL

Full guide →

Palos Heights (also known simply as Palos) is a town in Chicago's southern suburbs with a large Muslim minority.

Arriving in Rockford, IL

Full guide →

Rockford is a city in the Rock River Valley in Northern Illinois. With a population of over 145,000 (2019), it is the third largest city in the state.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 97.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 61.8 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $5.63 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 16.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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