Rockford, IL to Maryville, IL is 278.9 miles and takes about 5h 5m via I-55, I-39, and US-51, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. The majority of your travel will be on interstate highways, so expect a consistent pace. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under six hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
139.4 miles from Rockford, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
142.5 mi
2h 33m
I 39
118.2 mi
2h 6m
US 51
7.6 mi
8m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.3 mi
4m
South Main Street
3.6 mi
6m
Maryville Road
0.5 mi
<1m
South Center Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 142.5 mi, about 2h 33m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,806 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,393
Quietest
2 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockford, IL and Maryville, IL.
1
Start on West State Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·West State Street
2
Turn left onto IL 2
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Church Street
3
Turn left onto IL 2
275 ft·4 sec·Cedar Street
4
Turn right onto IL 2
3.6 mi·6 min·South Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
6
Merge onto US 20
4.3 mi·4 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 39; US 51
118 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 39; US 51
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
7.6 mi·8 min·US 51
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 15BToward IL 159 North: Maryville
13
Turn straight onto IL 159
0.2 mi·19 sec·S Center Street
14
Continue on IL 159
0.5 mi·40 sec·Maryville Road
15
Continue on IL 159
0.3 mi·33 sec·South Center Street
16
Turn right onto East Main Street
175 ft·7 sec·East Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 5m estimated drive time, departing Rockford in the morning will allow you to reach Maryville well before evening. You can comfortably complete this trip in one day. The route has a fuel cost estimate of $43, so ensure your tank is full before you leave or plan a stop accordingly. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when and where to break up the drive, but consider taking a break around the halfway point, which falls within the long stretch on I-55.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.4 miles from Rockford, IL, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.5 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 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.4 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maryville, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rockford, IL
This is one driving day of about 278.9 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Rockford, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 142.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 277.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 2 / South Church Street
Turn left onto IL 2 / South Church Street
Navigation decision point
6
127.6 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champai...
8
135.2 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
7
200 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
277.7 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward IL 159 North: Maryville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 15B
Toward IL 159 North: Maryville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.52 one way
$93.05 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$50.76
$101.52
premium
$5.25
$57.68
$115.36
diesel
$6.28
$68.91
$137.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.7
1
$29.28
$13.39
Efficient EV
69.7
0
$24.40
$11.16
EV Truck/SUV
111.6
1
$39.05
$17.85
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Rockford, IL
Late night
in Rockford on Friday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Maryville, IL
Late night
in Maryville on Friday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SE 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
48°F
Bloomington, IL
139 mi in
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
4 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
5h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 192.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 96% of the 278.9 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 142.5 miles on I-55 without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will occur near the end of your drive, likely within the last 10 miles. Expect frequent exits and potential for slower traffic as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 39. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 2 / South Church Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 278.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 (IL 2 / South Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.6 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
846 ft574 ft
Total Climb
402 ft
Total Descent
539 ft
Highest Point
846 ft
~39.8 mi in
Elevation Range
273 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rockford, IL and Maryville, IL, road signs point toward Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur and Springfield.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 278.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Maryville, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 2 / South Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.6 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Maryville, IL before the return drive.
