How far is Bristol, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Bristol, IL to Rockford, IL is about 73 miles (117.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53 miles (85.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
73 mi
01h 16m
Flight
52.98 mi
85.26 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bristol.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
52.98 mi
Kilometers
85.26 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
73 mi
Kilometers
117.49 km
Drive Time
01h 16m

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 01h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Tue, May 12, 8:53 PM CDT
Return by in Bristol
Tue, May 12, 10:10 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bristol
2026-05-12T19:36
Arrive Rockford
Tue, May 12, 8:53 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bristol
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Creston
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Bristol
36.5 mi
00h 38m
To Rockford
36.5 mi
00h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 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 Bristol and Rockford.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Cannonball Trail

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Cannonball Trail

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Galena Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Galena Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Bridge Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Bridge Street

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  5. 5

    Continue on Illinois Route 47

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Illinois Route 47

  6. 6

    Continue on Route 47

    1.5 km · 1 min · Route 47

  7. 7

    Continue on Illinois Route 47

    684 ft · 9 sec · Illinois Route 47

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West Toll: DeKalb

    1562 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    30.3 mi · 32 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

    1.1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    21.1 mi · 23 min

  12. 12

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

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

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

  14. 14

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

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West State Street

    45 m · 4 sec · West State Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
18 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
30.3 mi · 41%
I 39 North
21.7 mi · 30%
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.67 mi · 6%
North Bridge Street
4.21 mi · 6%
South Main Street
3.66 mi · 5%
Illinois Route 47
3.23 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

30.3 mi · 00h 32m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 16m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20 mi
53 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Creston
00h 38m from Bristol
Leave By
3:56 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bristol 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 Bristol to Rockford?

The road trip is about 73 miles (117.5 km) and usually takes 01h 16m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Creston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36.5 miles from Bristol and 36.5 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 53 miles (85.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 20 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:56 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.73 one way or $19.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bristol and Chance Rain near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Creston

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Creston, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

38 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Mendota station

44 mi away
783 Main Street
RAIL

Plano

46 mi away
101 West Main Street
BUS

South Beloit, Illinois

62 mi away
15766 Manchester Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bristol and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 52.98 mi (85.26 km).

Bristol

#1 Bristol

Township in Kendall County, Illinois

Population30,486
Coordinates41.6855900, -88.4281300
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: Cannonball Trail (-88.428173, 41.685611)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 117 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.58 gal
9.75 L · about $9.73
Round trip
$19.46
5.16 gal · 19.5 L
Estimated CO2
22.9 kg one way
Round trip: 45.9 kg / 101 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.73 $19.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.97 $21.95
Premium $4.65 $12.01 $24.01
Diesel $5.30 $13.68 $27.37

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Bristol and Rockford. The current time is 19:36:04.

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.