How far is Fairfield, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Fairfield, IL to Rockford, IL is about 310.9 miles (500.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 271.7 miles (437.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 11m 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
310.85 mi
05h 05m
Flight
271.69 mi
437.24 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fairfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
271.69 mi
Kilometers
437.24 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
310.85 mi
Kilometers
500.26 km
Drive Time
05h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 3:42 AM CDT
Return by in Fairfield
Sun, Apr 19, 8:47 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fairfield
2026-04-18T22:36
Arrive Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 3:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:06 AM to 1:06 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
6:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fairfield
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
Farmer City
IL

City in De Witt County, Illinois, United States

From Fairfield
159.8 mi
02h 32m
To Rockford
151.1 mi
02h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
57°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 1st Street

    75 m · 12 sec · South 1st Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto County Road 1600E

    4 mi · 6 min · County Road 1600E

  4. 4

    Continue on Washington Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Washington Street

  5. 5

    Continue on County Road 1600E

    4.6 mi · 7 min · County Road 1600E

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road 1800N

    1.4 mi · 2 min · County Road 1800N

  7. 7

    Continue on Central Street

    2051 ft · 35 sec · Central Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Central Street

    2844 ft · 48 sec · Central Street

  9. 9

    Continue on County Road 1400E

    14.3 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400E

  10. 10

    Turn right onto County Road 925 E

    16.2 mi · 24 min · County Road 925 E

  11. 11

    Continue on United States Route 45

    14.9 mi · 22 min · United States Route 45

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Fayette Avenue

    1123 ft · 33 sec · West Fayette Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South 3rd Street

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute

    2624 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.3 km · 55 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    73.9 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West: Peoria

    2688 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    51.4 mi · 55 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    1.5 km · 59 sec

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North: Rockford

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 9 min

  21. 21

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

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

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

  23. 23

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

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto West State Street

    45 m · 4 sec · West State Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fairfield 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
27 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
120 mi · 39%
I 57 North
73.9 mi · 24%
I 74 West
52.8 mi · 17%
County Road 925 E
16.2 mi · 5%
United States Route 45
14.9 mi · 5%
County Road 1400E
14.3 mi · 5%
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 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.2 mi
271.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Farmer City
02h 32m from Fairfield
Leave By
6:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Fairfield and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Rockford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 310.9 miles (500.3 km) and usually takes 05h 05m 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?

Farmer City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.8 miles from Fairfield and 151.1 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 271.7 miles (437.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.2 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 6:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.37 one way or $82.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Fairfield and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Farmer City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Farmer City, 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 Farmer City.

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

37 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Uptown Station

41 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Rantoul

42 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Lincoln

62 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fairfield and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 271.69 mi (437.24 km).

Fairfield

#1 Fairfield

City in Illinois, United States

Population4,889
Coordinates38.3789400, -88.3597700
Altitude134
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: South 1st Street (-88.359891, 38.378939)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 500 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.97 gal
41.52 L · about $41.37
Round trip
$82.74
21.94 gal · 83.04 L
Estimated CO2
97.5 kg one way
Round trip: 195 kg / 430 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.37 $82.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.66 $93.31
Premium $4.65 $51.05 $102.11
Diesel $5.30 $58.18 $116.37

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Fairfield and Rockford. The current time is 22:36:25.

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.