How far is Jonesboro, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Jonesboro, IL to Rockford, IL is about 397.6 miles (639.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 333.1 miles (536.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
397.6 mi
06h 10m
Flight
333.12 mi
536.1 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jonesboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
333.12 mi
Kilometers
536.1 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
397.6 mi
Kilometers
639.87 km
Drive Time
06h 10m

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 06h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Sun, May 31, 1:04 AM CDT
Return by in Jonesboro
Sun, May 31, 7:15 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jonesboro
2026-05-30T18:54
Arrive Rockford
Sun, May 31, 1:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:11 PM to 1:41 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jonesboro
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Macon
IL

City in Illinois

From Jonesboro
186.9 mi
03h 05m
To Rockford
210.7 mi
03h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
6 mph ENE
Destination
79°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 4:00 PM CDT
Wind
15 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 3 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Public Square

    6 m · 8 sec · Public Square

  3. 3

    Continue on Public Square

    39 m · 6 sec · Public Square

  4. 4

    Merge sharp left onto Public Square

    111 m · 8 sec · Public Square

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto Broad Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Broad Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East Vienna Street

    5.8 mi · 8 min · East Vienna Street

  7. 7

    Continue on 770N

    1338 ft · 28 sec · 770N

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left

    1462 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    65.6 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    20.5 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

    2199 ft · 54 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto West Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on East Poplar Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Poplar

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 150E

    10.4 mi · 12 min · 150E

  16. 16

    Continue on 300E

    13.5 mi · 15 min · 300E

  17. 17

    Turn left

    2405 ft · 35 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto North Kennedy Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on County Road 875 East

    11.1 mi · 13 min · County Road 875 East

  20. 20

    Continue on South Superior Street

    15.1 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road 2400 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 2400 East

  22. 22

    Continue on Fair Avenue

    3070 ft · 2 min · Fair Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on South Poplar Street

    2138 ft · 32 sec · South Poplar Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto East 1st Street

    2150 ft · 1 min · East 1st Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Cedar Street

    116 m · 5 sec · Cedar Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Jackson Street

    2709 ft · 2 min · Jackson Street

  27. 27

    Continue on North 2600 East Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · North 2600 East Road

  28. 28

    Turn left

    28.7 mi · 33 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward Decatur

    2582 ft · 1 min

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on Decatur

    44 m · 4 sec

  31. 31

    Turn straight onto South Business Route 51

    2.6 mi · 4 min · South Business Route 51

  32. 32

    Continue on South Main Street

    769 ft · 19 sec · South Main Street

  33. 33

    Continue on South Franklin Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Franklin Street

  34. 34

    Continue on North Water Street

    27.4 mi · 37 min · North Water Street

  35. 35

    Continue on North 1450 East Road

    14.7 mi · 18 min · North 1450 East Road

  36. 36

    Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West, US 51 North: Peoria, Rockford

    8.9 mi · 10 min

  37. 37

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North: Rockford

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 9 min

  38. 38

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

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  39. 39

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

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

  40. 40

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

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  41. 41

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  42. 42

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  43. 43

    Turn right onto West State Street

    45 m · 4 sec · West State Street

  44. 44

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jonesboro 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
44 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
120 mi · 30%
Ken Gray Expressway
86 mi · 22%
North Water Street
27.4 mi · 7%
South Superior Street
15.1 mi · 4%
North 1450 East Road
14.7 mi · 4%
300E
13.5 mi · 3%
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

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 10m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+64.5 mi
333.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Macon
03h 05m from Jonesboro
Leave By
11:38 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Jonesboro and Mostly Cloudy near Rockford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 397.6 miles (639.9 km) and usually takes 06h 10m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Macon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 186.9 miles from Jonesboro and 210.7 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 333.1 miles (536.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.5 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.91 one way or $105.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 124.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Jonesboro and Mostly Cloudy near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Macon

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

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

RAIL

Springfield station

57 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Lincoln

58 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Mattoon station

59 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

77 mi away
401 West National Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jonesboro and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 333.12 mi (536.1 km).

Jonesboro

#1 Jonesboro

City in Union County, Illinois, United States

Population1,677
Coordinates37.4517200, -89.2681400
Altitude172
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: Public Square (-89.268226, 37.451677)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 640 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.03 gal
53.11 L · about $52.91
Round trip
$105.81
28.06 gal · 106.22 L
Estimated CO2
124.7 kg one way
Round trip: 249.4 kg / 550 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $52.91 $105.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $59.67 $119.34
Premium $4.65 $65.30 $130.59
Diesel $5.30 $74.42 $148.83

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Jonesboro and Rockford. The current time is 18:54:12.

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.