How far is Granite City, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Granite City, IL to Rockford, IL is about 291.1 miles (468.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 252.8 miles (406.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 05m 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
291.13 mi
04h 32m
Flight
252.79 mi
406.82 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Granite City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
252.79 mi
Kilometers
406.82 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
291.13 mi
Kilometers
468.53 km
Drive Time
04h 32m

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 04h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Sun, May 31, 10:59 AM CDT
Return by in Granite City
Sun, May 31, 3:32 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Granite City
2026-05-31T06:27
Arrive Rockford
Sun, May 31, 10:59 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:33 AM to 12:33 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
7:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Granite City
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Funks Grove
IL

Township in McLean County, Illinois

From Granite City
145 mi
02h 16m
To Rockford
146.2 mi
02h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Sunday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph SE
Destination
79°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Granite City and Rockford.

  1. 1

    Start on Niedringhaus Avenue

    1307 ft · 37 sec · Niedringhaus Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Madison Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Madison Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Nameoki Road

    3.4 mi · 6 min · Nameoki Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 270 East: Effingham

    2142 ft · 43 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    9.8 mi · 11 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield

    1668 ft · 47 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    107.2 mi · 1 hr 56 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

    7.6 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North: Rockford

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 9 min

  11. 11

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

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

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

  13. 13

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

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West State Street

    45 m · 4 sec · West State Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
144 mi · 50%
I 39 North
120 mi · 41%
I 270 East
10.3 mi · 4%
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.67 mi · 2%
South Main Street
3.66 mi · 1%
Nameoki Road
3.36 mi · 1%
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
04h 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.3 mi
252.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Funks Grove
02h 16m from Granite City
Leave By
7:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Granite City and Partly Sunny near Rockford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Granite City to Rockford?

The road trip is about 291.1 miles (468.5 km) and usually takes 04h 32m 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?

Funks Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145 miles from Granite City and 146.2 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 252.8 miles (406.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.3 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 7:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.73 one way or $77.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms around Granite City and Partly Sunny near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Funks Grove

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 Funks Grove and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 8.2 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 10.7 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 10.7 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 12.8 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Funks Grove.

RAIL

Uptown Station

20 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Lincoln

32 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

59 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway
RAIL

Pontiac station

70 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Granite City and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 252.79 mi (406.82 km).

Granite City

#1 Granite City

Township in Madison County, Illinois

Population25,662
Coordinates38.7014400, -90.1487200
Altitude129
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: Niedringhaus Avenue (-90.14872, 38.701518)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 469 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.27 gal
38.89 L · about $38.73
Round trip
$77.46
20.54 gal · 77.78 L
Estimated CO2
91.3 kg one way
Round trip: 182.5 kg / 402 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.73 $77.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.68 $87.36
Premium $4.65 $47.80 $95.59
Diesel $5.30 $54.47 $108.94

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Granite City and Rockford. The current time is 06:27:09.

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.