This 111-mile journey from South Holland, IL to Rockford, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just under two hours to complete. You'll primarily navigate via West 159th Street and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway), with a fuel cost estimated around $17. The drive offers a turn-heavy local feel, so it’s best suited for those who prefer a more involved navigation experience over a simple highway cruise. Since both the origin and destination are within Illinois in the Midwest region, you won’t encounter significant changes in landscape or culture. This route is perfect for a quick excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.9 miles from South Holland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
61.8 mi
1h 6m
Tri-State Tollway
33.1 mi
41m
East State Street
6 mi
10m
West 159th Street
2.5 mi
5m
East 162nd Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Jefferson Street
0.7 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 South Holland, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·East 162nd Street
2
Continue on US 6
2.5 mi·5 min·West 159th Street
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
4
Merge onto I 294
23 mi·28 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
10 mi·13 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 40Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 90
0.2 mi·12 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
13
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
6.0 mi·10 min·East State Street
14
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
15
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Wyman Street
16
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft·2 sec·West State Street
17
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, 111-mile drive taking only 1 hour and 51 minutes, you have the flexibility to leave whenever is most convenient. With no designated stops and a relatively low fuel cost of $17, you can easily complete this trip in one go. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means paying close attention to your GPS and local signage is key, so consider leaving a little earlier than you think you need to, especially if you're not familiar with the area. Keep an eye out for the transitions between different local roads as you make your way towards Rockford.
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 53.9 miles from South Holland, IL, or about 1h 9m 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 24 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 9m 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 46m
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 South Holland, 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 South Holland, IL
This is one driving day of about 107.9 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from South Holland, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 27 and 38.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27 mi into trip|~37m 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
37.3 mi into trip|~50m 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
37.5 mi into trip|~50m 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
37.8 mi into trip|~51m 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
38.7 mi into trip|~53m 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
$16.87 one way
$33.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.52
$37.04
premium
$4.89
$20.76
$41.53
diesel
$5.61
$23.82
$47.65
Estimated Tolls: $6.30
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(61.6 mi)$4.31
Tri-state Tollway
(33.1 mi)$1.99
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
$17
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.4
0
$11.33
$5.18
Efficient EV
27
0
$9.44
$4.32
EV Truck/SUV
43.2
0
$15.11
$6.91
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
South Holland, IL
Morning
in South Holland on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rockford, IL
Morning
in Rockford on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
20 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
2h 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 111-mile stretch, with 0% of the route being on highways. This means you'll be dealing with frequent turns and local road conditions for the entire duration, rather than extended periods of high-speed driving. While there's no specific mention of the longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests you'll be actively navigating through various local streets and intersections for the full 1 hour and 51 minutes. The character of the road will likely involve more traffic lights and varied speed limits as you transition between different local areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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 27 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 107.9 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 27 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 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 South Holland, IL to Rockford, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
37.3 mi in|~50m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 107.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m 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 $6.30 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 27 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 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.
