How far is Highwood, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Highwood, IL to Rockford, IL is about 92.3 miles (148.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 65.9 miles (106.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 06m 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
92.29 mi
01h 33m
Flight
65.91 mi
106.07 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Highwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
65.91 mi
Kilometers
106.07 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
92.29 mi
Kilometers
148.52 km
Drive Time
01h 33m

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 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 11:21 AM CDT
Return by in Highwood
Sun, Apr 19, 12:54 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Highwood
2026-04-19T09:47
Arrive Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 11:21 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:24 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Highwood
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Gilberts
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Highwood
41.1 mi
00h 46m
To Rockford
51.2 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
51°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Prairie Avenue

    71 m · 7 sec · Prairie Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Green Bay Road

    3103 ft · 1 min · Green Bay Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Green Bay Road

    2785 ft · 1 min · Green Bay Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Central Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Deerfield Road

    639 ft · 13 sec · Deerfield Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Deerfield Road

    3.8 mi · 7 min · Deerfield Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago

    1734 ft · 42 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 54 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Willow Road

    1072 ft · 26 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    1015 ft · 25 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Willow Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Willow Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Palatine Road

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Palatine Road

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 53 South

    1330 ft · 33 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    3.2 mi · 4 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 Toll: Rockford, Chicago

    1785 ft · 28 sec

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 62: Algonquin Road

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Algonquin Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Algonquin Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North Meacham Road

    3070 ft · 1 min · North Meacham Road

  20. 20

    Take the ramp right toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford

    2686 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    51.2 mi · 55 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 Business, State Street

    2076 ft · 50 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right

    857 ft · 21 sec

  24. 24

    Turn straight onto East State Street

    6 mi · 10 min · East State Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto East Jefferson Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · East Jefferson Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto North Wyman Street

    793 ft · 24 sec · North Wyman Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto West State Street

    23 m · 2 sec · West State Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
28 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
51.2 mi · 55%
Palatine Road
6.23 mi · 7%
East State Street
6.04 mi · 7%
Tri-State Tollway
4.31 mi · 5%
Deerfield Road
3.87 mi · 4%
IL 53 South
3.49 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

51.2 mi · 00h 55m

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 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.4 mi
65.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gilberts
00h 46m from Highwood
Leave By
3:24 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers leaving Highwood and Mostly Sunny near Rockford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 92.3 miles (148.5 km) and usually takes 01h 33m 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?

Gilberts is a useful midpoint, sitting about 41.1 miles from Highwood and 51.2 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 65.9 miles (106.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.4 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 3:24 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.29 one way or $24.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 29 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers around Highwood and Mostly Sunny near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Gilberts

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

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

RAIL

Naperville

41 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

47 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Plano

51 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

52 mi away
25 West Burlington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Highwood and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 65.91 mi (106.07 km).

Highwood

#1 Highwood

City in Illinois

Population5,301
Coordinates42.1997500, -87.8092300
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: Prairie Avenue (-87.80923, 42.199767)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 149 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.26 gal
12.33 L · about $12.29
Round trip
$24.59
6.52 gal · 24.66 L
Estimated CO2
29 kg one way
Round trip: 57.9 kg / 128 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.29 $24.59
Mid-grade $4.25 $13.86 $27.73
Premium $4.65 $15.17 $30.34
Diesel $5.30 $17.29 $34.58

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 Highwood and Rockford. The current time is 09:47:58.

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.