Spanning 356.3 miles across the Illinois landscape, this trip from York to Guilford is a straightforward journey through the Midwest. You should plan for about 7 hours and 31 minutes of time behind the wheel, making it a long but manageable day trip for those comfortable with extended driving. Budget roughly $54 for fuel to cover the entire trek. Since you will spend 69% of your time on highways, it is a practical route for efficient travel rather than a slow-paced scenic tour. Because the drive is contained within the same state, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the journey.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
178.1 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 51
119.9 mi
2h 8m
I 74
86.2 mi
1h 33m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
1h 8m
IL 1
31.3 mi
46m
Georgetown Road
29.8 mi
44m
South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
8.1 mi
14m
South Galena Avenue
7.3 mi
13m
US 20 Business
3.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 51
— 119.9 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between York, IL and Guilford, IL.
1
Start on North York Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North York Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·West Broadway Street
3
Continue on East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
4
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
31 mi·46 min·IL 1
5
Continue on US 150; IL 1
2.4 mi·6 min·IL Route 1
6
Continue on US 150; IL 1
10 mi·14 min·Georgetown Road
7
Continue on US 150; IL 1
0.3 mi·28 sec·1575 E US 36
8
Continue on US 150; IL 1
6.1 mi·9 min·Georgetown Road
9
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.9 mi·2 min·North State Street
10
Continue on US 150; IL 1
14 mi·20 min·Georgetown Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·41 sec
Toward I 74 West: Champaign
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 74 West
13
Merge onto I 74
86 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 74
14
Continue on I 55; US 51
0.9 mi·58 sec·I 55; US 51
15
Take the exit onto US 51
120 mi·2 hr 8 min·US 51
Exit 164Toward I 39 North: RockfordUse the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
17
Merge onto US 20
29 mi·33 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit onto US 20 Business
3.6 mi·5 min·US 20 Business
Toward US 20 BUS: Freeport
19
Turn slight right onto US 20 Business
7.3 mi·13 min·South Galena Avenue
20
Turn left onto US 20
14 mi·19 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
21
Continue on US 20; IL 78
2.1 mi·3 min·East North Avenue
22
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·8 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
23
Continue on US 20
0.5 mi·1 min·East Woodbine Street
24
Continue on US 20
4.6 mi·6 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
25
Continue on US 20
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
26
Turn straight onto US 20
0.1 mi·20 sec·Diagonal Street
27
Continue on US 20
0.7 mi·1 min·West Madison Street
28
Turn right onto CR 4
8.1 mi·14 min·South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
29
Turn left onto West Rawlins Road
1.9 mi·4 min·West Rawlins Road
30
Continue on West Guilford Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Guilford Road
31
Arrive at destination
West Guilford Road
Trip Plan
To tackle this 7.5-hour trek effectively, try to leave early in the morning to avoid fatigue during the final miles. You should plan for at least two designated stops to break up the 356.3-mile distance and keep your energy levels consistent. Since the longest uninterrupted segment is nearly 120 miles on US 51, verify your fuel levels before starting that portion of the route to avoid unnecessary detours. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the lack of major traffic bottlenecks allows you to adjust your two stops based on your own comfort. Keep your $54 fuel budget in mind when selecting stations along the main transit corridors.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 178.1 miles from York, IL, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.9 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 78 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.1 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving York, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from York, IL
This is one driving day of about 356.3 miles and 7h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from York, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 51 for about 119.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 275.7 — 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|West Broadway Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip|~9m in|IL 1
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West
7
155.8 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|US 51
Take the exit onto US 51 toward I 39 North: Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 164
Toward I 39 North: Rockford
5
275.7 mi into trip|~5h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.70 one way
$111.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$61.16
$122.32
premium
$4.89
$68.57
$137.13
diesel
$5.61
$78.67
$157.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.9
1
$37.41
$17.10
Efficient EV
89.1
1
$31.18
$14.25
EV Truck/SUV
142.5
1
$49.88
$22.80
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
York, IL
Evening
in York on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 15 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Guilford, IL
Evening
in Guilford on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
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
18 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
7h 31m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive relies heavily on US 51, I 74, and the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway to keep your pace steady. You will encounter a mix of major thoroughfares, with the most significant leg being a 119.9-mile stretch on US 51 that demands steady focus. Because 69% of the route is highway, expect a functional, fast-moving experience that prioritizes reaching your destination efficiently. While the terrain remains within the Midwest, the road character shifts from interstate stretches to the specific flow of the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a drive that prioritizes road utility over winding, technical backroads.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.9 mi on US 51.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 51 and I 74. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Broadway Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 356.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 York, IL to Guilford, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.
Rockford
275.7 mi in|~5h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 31m. Total distance: 356.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.9 miles on US 51. 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Guilford, 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 2 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 (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Guilford, IL before the return drive.
