How far is Rockford, IL from New Athens, IL?
The driving distance from Rockford, IL to New Athens, IL is about 309.7 miles (498.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 55m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 275.6 miles (443.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05h 55m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Logan County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Rockford and New Athens.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockford and New Athens.
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1
Start on West State Street
546 ft · 23 sec · West State Street
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2
Turn left onto South Church Street
1519 ft · 37 sec · South Church Street
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3
Turn left onto Cedar Street
84 m · 5 sec · Cedar Street
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4
Turn right onto South Main Street
3.6 mi · 6 min · South Main Street
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5
Take the ramp left
1707 ft · 44 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.3 mi · 5 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
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7
Take the exit slight right
1.2 km · 2 min
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8
Merge slight right
118.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
7.6 mi · 8 min
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
1434 ft · 48 sec
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13
Continue on Vandalia Street
3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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14
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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15
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
55 m · 5 sec · South Illinois Street
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17
Exit the rotary onto South Illinois Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · South Illinois Street
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18
Take the ramp left
945 ft · 23 sec
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19
Merge slight left
15.5 mi · 25 min
-
20
Turn left onto White Cabin Lodge Road
158 m · 14 sec · White Cabin Lodge Road
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21
Continue on South Van Buren Street
568 ft · 16 sec · South Van Buren Street
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22
Turn right onto South Benton Street
2721 ft · 2 min · South Benton Street
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23
Turn right onto Chester Street
19 m · 3 sec · Chester Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Chester Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Rockford and New Athens.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rockford and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Athens.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Rockford to New Athens?
The road trip is about 309.7 miles (498.4 km) and usually takes 05h 55m 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?
Atlanta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155 miles from Rockford and 154.7 miles from New Athens.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 275.6 miles (443.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.1 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 5:08 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.22 one way or $82.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Rockford and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Athens.
Stop Ideas Near Atlanta
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Lincoln
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Atlanta.
Lincoln
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Springfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Rockford and New Athens. Straight-line distance: 275.65 mi (443.62 km).
#1 Rockford
The second most populous city in Illinois.
| Population | 144,835 |
| Coordinates | 42.2711300, -89.0940000 |
| Altitude | 218 |
| Country | United States |
#2 New Athens
Village in St.
| Population | 1,865 |
| Coordinates | 38.3264400, -89.8770500 |
| Altitude | 121 |
| Country | United States |
End: New Athens (-89.87705, 38.32644)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 498 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 19m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 44m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 51m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $41.22 | $82.43 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $46.49 | $92.97 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $50.87 | $101.74 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $57.97 | $115.95 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.