How far is Jacksonville, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Jacksonville, IL to Rockford, IL is about 234.4 miles (377.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 185 miles (297.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 06m 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
234.45 mi
03h 33m
Flight
185.02 mi
297.76 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jacksonville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
185.02 mi
Kilometers
297.76 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
234.45 mi
Kilometers
377.31 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 2:10 AM CDT
Return by in Jacksonville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jacksonville
2026-04-18T22:36
Arrive Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 2:10 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jacksonville
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
Kappa
IL

Village in Woodford County, Illinois

From Jacksonville
117.2 mi
01h 46m
To Rockford
117.3 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Central Park Plaza

    48 m · 9 sec · South Central Park Plaza

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Mauvaisterre Street

    115 m · 13 sec · South Mauvaisterre Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Central Park Plaza

    117 m · 13 sec · North Central Park Plaza

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Sandy Street

    115 m · 13 sec · North Sandy Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Central Park Plaza

    58 m · 6 sec · South Central Park Plaza

  6. 6

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · South Main Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Morton Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · East Morton Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Old Route 36

    1.5 km · 1 min · Old Route 36

  9. 9

    Turn left

    1635 ft · 40 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    42.5 mi · 46 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    20.5 mi · 22 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  13. 13

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

    7.6 mi · 8 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North: Rockford

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 9 min

  15. 15

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

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

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

  17. 17

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

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West State Street

    45 m · 4 sec · West State Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jacksonville 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
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
120 mi · 51%
Old Route 36
63.9 mi · 27%
I 55 North
36.9 mi · 16%
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.67 mi · 2%
South Main Street
4.38 mi · 2%
East Morton Avenue
2.5 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
03h 33m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.4 mi
185 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kappa
01h 46m from Jacksonville
Leave By
9:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville to Rockford?

The road trip is about 234.4 miles (377.3 km) and usually takes 03h 33m 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?

Kappa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.2 miles from Jacksonville and 117.3 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 185 miles (297.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.4 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.19 one way or $62.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Kappa

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 Kappa and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 13.2 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 13.1 mi away

Normal Town

Normal , IL
100 S Maple St, Normal, IL 61761
Rating 2.3/5 3 reviews Government office
Minonk City Street Department
Nearby stop 14.6 mi away

Minonk City Street Department

Minonk , IL
202 W 10th St, Minonk, IL 61760
Rating 4.0/5 1 reviews Paving contractor

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Uptown Station

19 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

39 mi away
721 West Washington St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

57 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway
RAIL

Lincoln

66 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jacksonville and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 185.02 mi (297.76 km).

Jacksonville

#1 Jacksonville

City in Morgan County, Illinois, United States

Population18,488
Coordinates39.7339400, -90.2290100
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: South Central Park Plaza (-90.22901, 39.733738)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 377 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.27 gal
31.32 L · about $31.19
Round trip
$62.37
16.54 gal · 62.64 L
Estimated CO2
73.5 kg one way
Round trip: 147 kg / 324 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.19 $62.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.17 $70.34
Premium $4.65 $38.49 $76.98
Diesel $5.30 $43.86 $87.73

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 Jacksonville and Rockford. The current time is 22:36:49.

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.