How far is Petersburg, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from Petersburg, IL to Rockford, IL is about 204.3 miles (328.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 160.9 miles (259 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 28m 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
204.33 mi
03h 14m
Flight
160.97 mi
259.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Petersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
160.97 mi
Kilometers
259.05 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
204.33 mi
Kilometers
328.84 km
Drive Time
03h 14m

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 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 8:44 AM CDT
Return by in Petersburg
Sun, Apr 19, 11:58 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Petersburg
2026-04-19T05:30
Arrive Rockford
Sun, Apr 19, 8:44 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 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
10:32 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Petersburg
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
Minonk
IL

City in Woodford County, Illinois, United States

From Petersburg
101.2 mi
01h 37m
To Rockford
103.1 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph WNW
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 Petersburg and Rockford.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 6th Street

    1532 ft · 49 sec · South 6th Street

  2. 2

    Continue on South 6th Street

    734 ft · 21 sec · South 6th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Old Salem Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Old Salem Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Athens Blacktop Road

    6.6 mi · 10 min · Athens Blacktop Road

  5. 5

    Continue on North Main Street

    1186 ft · 48 sec · North Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto East Hargrave Street

    2666 ft · 2 min · East Hargrave Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Springfield Road

    1789 ft · 1 min · Springfield Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto County Road 11 N

    3.6 mi · 6 min · County Road 11 N

  10. 10

    Continue on Dinius Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Dinius Road

  11. 11

    Continue on County Highway 2

    1748 ft · 34 sec · County Highway 2

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left

    2341 ft · 57 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    17.2 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

    29.4 mi · 31 min

  15. 15

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

    7.6 mi · 8 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North: Rockford

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 9 min

  17. 17

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

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

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

  19. 19

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

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West State Street

    45 m · 4 sec · West State Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Petersburg 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
23 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
120 mi · 59%
I 55 North
36.9 mi · 18%
County Highway 2
17.9 mi · 9%
Athens Blacktop Road
6.63 mi · 3%
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.67 mi · 2%
South Main Street
3.66 mi · 2%
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 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.4 mi
160.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Minonk
01h 37m from Petersburg
Leave By
10:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Petersburg 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 Petersburg to Rockford?

The road trip is about 204.3 miles (328.8 km) and usually takes 03h 14m 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?

Minonk is a useful midpoint, sitting about 101.2 miles from Petersburg and 103.1 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 160.9 miles (259 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.4 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 10:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.19 one way or $54.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Petersburg and Mostly Sunny near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Minonk

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

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

RAIL

Pontiac station

34 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Uptown Station

44 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Dwight station

55 mi away
119 West Main St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

61 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Petersburg and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 160.97 mi (259.05 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Petersburg

City in Menard County, Illinois

Population2,190
Coordinates40.0117200, -89.8481700
Altitude156
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: IL 97 (-89.848388, 40.011717)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 329 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.21 gal
27.29 L · about $27.19
Round trip
$54.38
14.42 gal · 54.58 L
Estimated CO2
64.1 kg one way
Round trip: 128.2 kg / 283 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.19 $54.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.66 $61.33
Premium $4.65 $33.56 $67.11
Diesel $5.30 $38.24 $76.48

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 Petersburg and Rockford. The current time is 05:30:14.

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.