How far is Rockford, IL from Olney, IL?

The driving distance from Rockford, IL to Olney, IL is about 293.3 miles (472 km), with a travel time of about 05h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 250.3 miles (402.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 30m 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
293.28 mi
05h 45m
Flight
250.28 mi
402.78 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
250.28 mi
Kilometers
402.78 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
293.28 mi
Kilometers
471.99 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Olney
Thu, Apr 23, 8:11 AM CDT
Return by in Rockford
Thu, Apr 23, 1:57 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rockford
2026-04-23T02:26
Arrive Olney
Thu, Apr 23, 8:11 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:45 AM to 1:45 PM CDT

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

Leave by
5:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rockford
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
Downs
IL

Village in Illinois, USA

From Rockford
146.7 mi
02h 52m
To Olney
146.6 mi
02h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    45.3 mi · 48 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis

    1869 ft · 35 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    2939 ft · 50 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    47.2 mi · 51 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 East: Charleston

    1676 ft · 47 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East

    1.2 km · 1 min · Charleston Avenue East

  16. 16

    Continue on Illinois Route 16

    6 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16

  17. 17

    Continue on West Lincoln Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 18th Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · 18th Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Illinois Route 130

    1.2 km · 1 min · Illinois Route 130

  20. 20

    Continue on Route 130

    10 mi · 15 min · Route 130

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road 1825 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 1825 East

  22. 22

    Continue on County Road 1775 E

    1.3 km · 1 min · County Road 1775 E

  23. 23

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    1945 ft · 33 sec · North Haughton Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on 1700E

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 1700E

  25. 25

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    4 mi · 6 min · North Haughton Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on County Road 1700E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · County Road 1700E

  27. 27

    Continue on North 1250th Street

    13.3 mi · 20 min · North 1250th Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto South Van Buren Street

    11 mi · 15 min · South Van Buren Street

  29. 29

    Continue on County Road 1100 East

    6.7 mi · 9 min · County Road 1100 East

  30. 30

    Continue on North West Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North West Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto West Butler Street

    2614 ft · 1 min · West Butler Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto North Walnut Street

    565 ft · 19 sec · North Walnut Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Walnut Street

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
123 mi · 42%
I 57 South
47.8 mi · 16%
I 74 East
45.3 mi · 15%
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi · 5%
South Van Buren Street
11 mi · 4%
Route 130
9.97 mi · 3%
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

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
05h 45m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43 mi
250.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Downs
02h 52m from Rockford
Leave By
5:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Rockford and Mostly Sunny near Olney.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 293.3 miles (472 km) and usually takes 05h 45m 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?

Downs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.7 miles from Rockford and 146.6 miles from Olney.

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

The direct path is about 250.3 miles (402.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 43 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 5:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.03 one way or $78.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Downs

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 Downs and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 11.9 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 10.6 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 10.6 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Uptown Station

16 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Lincoln

50 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Pontiac station

57 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Rantoul

61 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rockford and Olney. Straight-line distance: 250.28 mi (402.78 km).

Rockford

#1 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

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

#2 Olney

City in Richland County, Illinois, United States of America

Population8,667
Coordinates38.7308800, -88.0853200
Altitude146
CountryUnited States
Start: Rockford (-89.094, 42.27113)
End: Olney (-88.08532, 38.73088)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 472 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.35 gal
39.18 L · about $39.03
Round trip
$78.06
20.7 gal · 78.36 L
Estimated CO2
92 kg one way
Round trip: 184 kg / 406 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.03 $78.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.02 $88.04
Premium $4.65 $48.17 $96.34
Diesel $5.30 $54.90 $109.79

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 Olney. The current time is 02:26:34.

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.