Origin
Rockford, IL
Night in Rockford on Saturday
Local time
10:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockford, IL to South Pekin, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 10m
Distance
160.7 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 58m
★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockford, IL
Wikimedia Commons
South Pekin, IL
Cheng Shi Song
Trip Overview
The drive from Rockford, IL to South Pekin, IL covers 160.7 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 39, IL 29, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.3 miles on I 39. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.3 miles from Rockford, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 59.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| IL 29 | 32.6 mi | 38m |
| I 80 | 16.7 mi | 17m |
| IL 6 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| I 180 | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| I 474 | 6.3 mi | 6m |
| North 2nd Street | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| US 24 | 5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 59.3 mi, about 1h 3m
Traffic on I-39
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,260 veh/hr typical · worst 1,643
Quietest
1 AM
~139 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 86 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 South Pekin, 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
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 39; US 51
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 59B
Toward I 80 West: La Salle-Peru, Des Moines
10
Merge onto I 80
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 180 South: Hennepin
12
Continue on I 180
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 180
13
Keep slight right at fork
2.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward Peoria
14
Continue on IL 29
33 mi
·
38 min
·
IL 29
15
Continue on IL 29
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Galena Road
16
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
17
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
18
Continue on IL 6
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
IL 6
19
Continue on I 474
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 474
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 24 West: Bartonville
21
Keep slight right at fork
288 ft
·
6 sec
22
Merge onto US 24
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US 24
23
Turn left
177 ft
·
8 sec
24
Continue on IL 9
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 9
25
Turn right onto IL 9; IL 29
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
North 2nd Street
26
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
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 80.3 miles from Rockford, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.3 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 35 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.3 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Pekin, 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 160.7 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 39 for about 59.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.3 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 130.6 — 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
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: La Salle-Peru, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59B
Toward I 80 West: La Salle-Peru, Des Moines
5
69.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
95.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Peoria
5
130.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.91 one way
$49.83 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $27.32 | $54.64 |
| premium | $4.93 | $31.18 | $62.36 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $35.42 | $70.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.87 | $7.71 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.06 | $6.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.3 | 0 | $22.50 | $10.28 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
South Pekin, IL
Night in South Pekin on Saturday
Local time
10:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Peoria, IL
80 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
3h 10m 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?
160.7 mi in 3h 10m, mostly highway — 59.3 mi of that is on I 39.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.3 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and IL 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 2 / South Church Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 160.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 2 / South Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
920 ft
467 ft
Total Climb
470 ft
Total Descent
671 ft
Highest Point
920 ft
~45.9 mi in
Elevation Range
453 ft
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.
Between Rockford, IL and South Pekin, IL, road signs point toward Des Moines and Peoria.
Des Moines
68.7 mi in
|
~1h 18m
Peoria
95.8 mi in
|
~1h 48m
About the Cities
Starting in Rockford, IL
Full guide →Founded 1852
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.
Top landmarks
- • Kenneth and Phyllis Laurent House — Usonian house
- • Herrick Cobblestone — house in Rockford, Illinois, USA
- • Haight Village Historic District — park in the United States of America
Arriving in South Pekin, IL
Full guide →Founded 1917
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 3h 10m. Total distance: 160.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.3 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 South Pekin, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 2 / South Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at South Pekin, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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