How far is Benton, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Benton, IL to Rockford, IL is about 349.1 miles (561.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 295.5 miles (475.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
349.15 mi
05h 12m
Flight
295.47 mi
475.52 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Benton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
295.47 mi
Kilometers
475.52 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
349.15 mi
Kilometers
561.9 km
Drive Time
05h 12m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Tue, May 12, 10:49 PM CDT
Return by in Benton
Wed, May 13, 4:02 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Benton
2026-05-12T17:37
Arrive Rockford
Tue, May 12, 10:49 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:13 AM to 1:13 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Benton
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Clinton
IL

Largest city in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States

From Benton
162.7 mi
02h 36m
To Rockford
186.4 mi
02h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 13 mph SSW
Destination
76°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Benton and Rockford.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Benton and Rockford.

  1. 1

    Start on Public Square

    133 m · 10 sec · Public Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto West Main Street

    3144 ft · 55 sec · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1685 ft · 41 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    24 mi · 26 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    20.5 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

    2199 ft · 54 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto West Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on East Poplar Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Poplar

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar

  10. 10

    Turn right onto 150E

    10.4 mi · 12 min · 150E

  11. 11

    Continue on 300E

    13.5 mi · 15 min · 300E

  12. 12

    Turn left

    2405 ft · 35 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North Kennedy Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on County Road 875 East

    11.1 mi · 13 min · County Road 875 East

  15. 15

    Continue on South Superior Street

    15.1 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street

  16. 16

    Continue on County Road 2400 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 2400 East

  17. 17

    Continue on Fair Avenue

    3070 ft · 2 min · Fair Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on South Poplar Street

    2138 ft · 32 sec · South Poplar Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East 1st Street

    2150 ft · 1 min · East 1st Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Cedar Street

    116 m · 5 sec · Cedar Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Jackson Street

    2709 ft · 2 min · Jackson Street

  22. 22

    Continue on North 2600 East Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · North 2600 East Road

  23. 23

    Turn left

    28.7 mi · 33 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward Decatur

    2582 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Decatur

    44 m · 4 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto South Business Route 51

    2.6 mi · 4 min · South Business Route 51

  27. 27

    Continue on South Main Street

    769 ft · 19 sec · South Main Street

  28. 28

    Continue on South Franklin Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Franklin Street

  29. 29

    Continue on North Water Street

    27.4 mi · 37 min · North Water Street

  30. 30

    Continue on North 1450 East Road

    14.7 mi · 18 min · North 1450 East Road

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West, US 51 North: Peoria, Rockford

    8.9 mi · 10 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North: Rockford

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 9 min

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight left toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  34. 34

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    4.7 mi · 5 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 2: Rockford, Dixon

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  36. 36

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  37. 37

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  38. 38

    Turn right onto West State Street

    45 m · 4 sec · West State Street

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Benton and Rockford.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
39 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
120 mi · 34%
Ken Gray Expressway
44.4 mi · 13%
North Water Street
27.4 mi · 8%
South Superior Street
15.1 mi · 4%
North 1450 East Road
14.7 mi · 4%
300E
13.5 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 39 North

Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North: Rockford

120 mi · 02h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53.6 mi
295.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clinton
02h 36m from Benton
Leave By
6:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Benton and Chance Rain near Rockford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Benton to Rockford?

The road trip is about 349.1 miles (561.9 km) and usually takes 05h 12m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Clinton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.7 miles from Benton and 186.4 miles from Rockford.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 295.5 miles (475.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.46 one way or $92.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Benton and Chance Rain near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Clinton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Clinton and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 3.2 mi away

Clinton City Hall

Clinton , IL
118 W Washington St, Clinton, IL 61727
Historical landmark
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 13.3 mi away

Warrensburg Village Hall

Warrensburg , IL
155 Main St, Warrensburg, IL 62573
Rating 4.2/5 5 reviews City Hall
Whitmore Township Town Hall
Nearby stop 12.8 mi away

Whitmore Township Town Hall

Oreana , IL
Oreana, IL 62554
Rating 4.5/5 2 reviews Village hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clinton.

RAIL

Lincoln

34 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

39 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

62 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Springfield station

70 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Benton and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 295.47 mi (475.52 km).

Benton

#1 Benton

City in Illinois

Population6,784
Coordinates37.9967200, -88.9200700
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: Public Square (-88.920099, 37.996724)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 562 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.32 gal
46.64 L · about $46.46
Round trip
$92.92
24.64 gal · 93.28 L
Estimated CO2
109.5 kg one way
Round trip: 219 kg / 483 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.46 $92.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.40 $104.79
Premium $4.65 $57.34 $114.67
Diesel $5.30 $65.35 $130.69

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Benton and Rockford. The current time is 17:37:20.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.