How far is Rockford, IL from Paxton, IL?
The driving distance from Rockford, IL to Paxton, IL is about 186.6 miles (300.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 135.4 miles (217.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 27m 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 03h 43m.
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.
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Rockford and Paxton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockford and Paxton.
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1
Start on West State Street
3.4 mi · 6 min · West State Street
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2
Turn right onto South Alpine Road
1.5 km · 2 min · South Alpine Road
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3
Continue on South Alpine Road
109 m · 14 sec · South Alpine Road
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4
Turn right
26 m · 4 sec
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5
Turn right onto Charles Street
2.8 mi · 5 min · Charles Street
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6
Turn right onto South Mall Drive
118 m · 19 sec · South Mall Drive
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7
Turn left onto Harrison Avenue
3021 ft · 1 min · Harrison Avenue
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8
Take the ramp slight left
1207 ft · 30 sec
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9
Merge slight left
912 ft · 11 sec
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Chicago
2544 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
19.8 mi · 21 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
29.8 mi · 32 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
2618 ft · 1 min
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14
Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
1686 ft · 41 sec
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15
Continue on I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
1362 ft · 33 sec
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16
Merge slight left
5.7 mi · 7 min
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17
Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago
9.3 mi · 12 min
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
1648 ft · 40 sec
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19
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1 mi · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway
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21
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
42 m · 2 sec · Tri-State Tollway
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway
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24
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge
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25
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
1162 ft · 28 sec
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27
Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
2529 ft · 1 min
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28
Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue
4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue
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29
Turn left onto 167th Street
855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street
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30
Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
3048 ft · 1 min
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31
Merge slight left
84.8 mi · 1 hr 32 min
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32
Take the exit slight right toward IL 9: Paxton, Gibson City
1859 ft · 40 sec
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33
Turn straight onto Ottawa Road
1.3 km · 1 min · Ottawa Road
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34
Continue on South Market Street
985 ft · 18 sec · South Market Street
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35
Turn right onto East Patton Street
133 m · 13 sec · East Patton Street
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36
Turn left onto South Railroad Avenue
1304 ft · 24 sec · South Railroad Avenue
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37
Turn right onto East Pells Street
53 m · 5 sec · East Pells Street
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38
Turn right
5 m · 1 sec
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Rockford and Paxton.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 57 South
Merge slight left
84.8 mi · 01h 32m
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.
Chance Rain leaving Rockford and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paxton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Rockford to Paxton?
The road trip is about 186.6 miles (300.3 km) and usually takes 03h 43m 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?
Alsip is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93.3 miles from Rockford and 93.3 miles from Paxton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 135.4 miles (217.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.2 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 9:32 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.81 one way or $49.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain around Rockford and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paxton.
Stop Ideas Near Alsip
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Alsip.
Homewood
Summit
Hammond–Whiting station
La Grange Road
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Rockford and Paxton. Straight-line distance: 135.41 mi (217.92 km).
#1 Rockford
The second most populous city in Illinois.
| Population | 144,835 |
| Coordinates | 42.2711300, -89.0940000 |
| Altitude | 218 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Paxton
City in Ford County, Illinois
| Population | 4,117 |
| Coordinates | 40.4603100, -88.0953200 |
| Altitude | 241 |
| Country | United States |
End: Paxton (-88.09532, 40.46031)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 300 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 43m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $24.81 | $49.63 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $27.98 | $55.97 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $30.62 | $61.25 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $34.90 | $69.80 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.