How far is Rockford, IL from Carterville, IL?

The driving distance from Rockford, IL to Carterville, IL is about 348.1 miles (560.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 311.7 miles (501.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 31m 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
348.1 mi
06h 45m
Flight
311.69 mi
501.61 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rockford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
311.69 mi
Kilometers
501.61 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
348.1 mi
Kilometers
560.22 km
Drive Time
06h 45m

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 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carterville
Thu, Apr 23, 6:42 AM CDT
Return by in Rockford
Thu, Apr 23, 1:28 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rockford
2026-04-22T23:56
Arrive Carterville
Thu, Apr 23, 6:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:46 PM to 2:16 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
10:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rockford
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
Forsyth
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Rockford
174.2 mi
03h 22m
To Carterville
173.9 mi
03h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE
Destination
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West State Street

    546 ft · 23 sec · West State Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Church Street

    1519 ft · 37 sec · South Church Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Cedar Street

    84 m · 5 sec · Cedar Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    3.6 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left

    1707 ft · 44 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

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

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    1.2 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    118.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur

    7.6 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington

    1616 ft · 40 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on North 1450 East Road

    14.7 mi · 18 min · North 1450 East Road

  13. 13

    Continue on North Walnut Street

    23.2 mi · 30 min · North Walnut Street

  14. 14

    Turn straight

    9.9 mi · 15 min

  15. 15

    Take the ramp straight toward South Business Route 51

    19.6 mi · 24 min · South Business Route 51

  16. 16

    Continue on North 2600 East Rd

    7.9 mi · 9 min · North 2600 East Rd

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North 2600 East Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · North 2600 East Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Jackson Street

    2668 ft · 2 min · Jackson Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Cedar Street

    142 m · 8 sec · Cedar Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East 1st Street

    2150 ft · 1 min · East 1st Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South Poplar Street

    2138 ft · 30 sec · South Poplar Street

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Fair Avenue

    3070 ft · 2 min · Fair Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on County Road 2400 E

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 2400 E

  24. 24

    Continue on 300 East Road

    15.1 mi · 17 min · 300 East Road

  25. 25

    Continue on County Road 875 East

    11.1 mi · 13 min · County Road 875 East

  26. 26

    Continue on North Kennedy Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

  27. 27

    Turn left onto West Gallatin Street

    2405 ft · 34 sec · West Gallatin Street

  28. 28

    Turn right

    554 ft · 7 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on United States Highway 51

    13.4 mi · 15 min · United States Highway 51

  30. 30

    Continue on 250E

    10.4 mi · 12 min · 250E

  31. 31

    Turn left

    7.6 mi · 9 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit left

    1847 ft · 45 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left

    24.5 mi · 27 min

  34. 34

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    37.4 mi · 40 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    1758 ft · 43 sec

  36. 36

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    2421 ft · 59 sec

  37. 37

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    913 ft · 22 sec

  38. 38

    Merge slight left onto West Deyoung Street

    3.4 mi · 4 min · West Deyoung Street

  39. 39

    Continue on IL-13

    3 mi · 4 min · IL-13

  40. 40

    Turn right onto South Division Street

    1 mi · 2 min · South Division Street

  41. 41

    Turn left onto West Grand Avenue

    11 m · 1 sec · West Grand Avenue

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
42 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
123 mi · 35%
Ken Gray Expressway
37.4 mi · 11%
250E
35.2 mi · 10%
North Walnut Street
23.2 mi · 7%
South Business Route 51
19.6 mi · 6%
300 East Road
15.1 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Merge slight right

118 mi · 02h 07m

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 45m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.4 mi
311.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Forsyth
03h 22m from Rockford
Leave By
10:28 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Rockford and Sunny near Carterville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 348.1 miles (560.2 km) and usually takes 06h 45m 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?

Forsyth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 174.2 miles from Rockford and 173.9 miles from Carterville.

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

The direct path is about 311.7 miles (501.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.4 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 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 $46.31 one way or $92.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Rockford and Sunny near Carterville.

Stop Ideas Near Forsyth

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

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

RAIL

Lincoln

42 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Springfield station

62 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

64 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

64 mi away
45 East University Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rockford and Carterville. Straight-line distance: 311.69 mi (501.61 km).

Rockford

#1 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Carterville

#2 Carterville

City in Williamson County, Illinois, United States

Population5,834
Coordinates37.7600500, -89.0773000
Altitude138
CountryUnited States
Start: Rockford (-89.094, 42.27113)
End: Carterville (-89.0773, 37.76005)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 560 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.28 gal
46.5 L · about $46.31
Round trip
$92.62
24.56 gal · 93 L
Estimated CO2
109.1 kg one way
Round trip: 218.3 kg / 481 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.31 $92.62
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.23 $104.45
Premium $4.65 $57.15 $114.30
Diesel $5.30 $65.13 $130.27

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Rockford and Carterville. The current time is 23:56:40.

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.