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Trip from Rockford, IL to Knollwood, 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 50m

Distance

86.7 mi

140 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m

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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Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Rockford, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Knollwood, IL, IL

Knollwood, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

Rockford, IL to Knollwood, IL is 86.7 miles and takes about 1h 50m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward journey. Expect a drive that balances time on major tollways with navigating local roads as you approach your destination. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stay. Plan for a total fuel cost of around $14.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

43.4 miles from Rockford, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 49.5 mi 53m
Tri-State Tollway 12.7 mi 14m
Palatine Road 6 mi 8m
I 290 4.1 mi 5m
West State Street 3.4 mi 6m
Charles Street 2.8 mi 5m
Rockland Road 1.6 mi 3m
South Alpine Road 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 49.5 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West State Street

3.4 mi · 6 min · West State Street
2

Turn right onto South Alpine Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Alpine Road
3

Continue on South Alpine Road

359 ft · 14 sec · South Alpine Road
4

Turn right

87 ft · 3 sec
5

Turn right onto Charles Street

2.8 mi · 5 min · Charles Street
6

Turn right onto South Mall Drive

388 ft · 19 sec · South Mall Drive
7

Turn left onto Harrison Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Harrison Avenue
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
9

Merge onto I 39; US 51

0.2 mi · 11 sec · I 39; US 51
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
11

Merge onto I 90

20 mi · 21 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

30 mi · 31 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 68A-B Toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 19 sec
Exit 68B Toward IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs
15

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 18 sec · this road
Exit 68B Toward IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Exit 68B Toward IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs Use the right lane.
17

Merge onto I 290; IL 53

4.1 mi · 5 min · I 290; IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward East Palatine Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Merge onto Palatine Road

6.0 mi · 8 min · Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on Willow Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Willow Road
Use the straight lane.
21

Turn sharp left

383 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin Use the left lane.
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
23

Merge onto I 294

13 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway
24

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 16 Toward IL 176: Rockland Road Use the right lane.
25

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 176

1.6 mi · 3 min · Rockland Road
Use the left lane.
26

Turn left onto IL 43

0.5 mi · 48 sec · North Waukegan Road
27

Turn left onto Plaister Avenue

0.1 mi · 35 sec · Plaister Avenue
28

Arrive at destination

3 ft · 0 sec · Plaister Avenue

Trip Plan

With a total drive time of under two hours, this trip offers a good deal of flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive by midday, or even leave in the afternoon to avoid peak traffic. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider the 49.5-mile stretch on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway as a good point to assess your needs for fuel or a quick break. The fuel cost is estimated at $14, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Rockford to avoid any unexpected stops.

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 43.4 miles from Rockford, IL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.5 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 19 miles or 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.4 miles or 53m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knollwood, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Rockford, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Rockford, IL

This is one driving day of about 86.7 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Rockford, 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 49.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Cook and Kane counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Illinois

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elgin, IL

43 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

Belvidere, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Dundee, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.4 miles from Rockford, 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 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 28.6 and 84.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
28.6 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.
8
58.4 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 68A-B Toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
8
59.4 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Keep slight right at fork toward IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 68B Toward IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs
8
71.1 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

Turn sharp left toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
7
84.2 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Take the exit toward IL 176: Rockland Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 16 Toward IL 176: Rockland Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.55 one way

$27.11 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.88 $29.76
premium $4.89 $16.68 $33.37
diesel $5.61 $19.14 $38.28

Estimated Tolls: $4.22

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (49.5 mi) $3.46
Tri-state Tollway (12.7 mi) $0.76

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

$14

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26 0 $9.10 $4.16
Efficient EV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47
EV Truck/SUV 34.7 0 $12.14 $5.55

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Rockford, IL

Night in Rockford on Saturday

Local time

11:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Isolated Rain Showers

NW 5 to 10 mph 21% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Knollwood, IL

Night in Knollwood on Saturday

Local time

11:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

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 50m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' despite a significant portion on tollways. Only 5% of the drive is on highways, meaning you'll transition between major roads and more intricate local streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 49.5 miles, primarily on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Be prepared for frequent turns and changes in road type as you move from the initial tollway segments toward your final destination in Knollwood.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.5 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 28.6 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.7 miles you will encounter 21 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 28.6 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Rockford, IL to Knollwood, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Suburbs along the way.

Suburbs

58.4 mi in | ~1h 9m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 86.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49.5 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $4.22 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 Knollwood, 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 28.6 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knollwood, 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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