How far is Rockford, IL from Poplar Grove, IL?

The driving distance from Rockford, IL to Poplar Grove, IL is about 19.3 miles (31.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 15.4 miles (24.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
19.34 mi
00h 30m
Flight
15.43 mi
24.84 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rockford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
15.43 mi
Kilometers
24.84 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
19.34 mi
Kilometers
31.12 km
Drive Time
00h 30m

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 00h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Poplar Grove
Wed, May 13, 8:38 PM CDT
Return by in Rockford
Wed, May 13, 9:09 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rockford
2026-05-13T20:08
Arrive Poplar Grove
Wed, May 13, 8:38 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:31 AM to 7:31 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Rockford
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Harlem
IL

Township in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States

From Rockford
9.6 mi
00h 15m
To Poplar Grove
9.7 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rockford and Poplar Grove.

  1. 1

    Start on West State Street

    2549 ft · 1 min · West State Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 3rd Street

    1759 ft · 41 sec · North 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Continue on North 2nd Street

    7.3 mi · 11 min · North 2nd Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Lane Road

    4.9 mi · 8 min · West Lane Road

  5. 5

    Continue on State Route 173

    5.6 mi · 8 min · State Route 173

  6. 6

    Continue on West Grove Street

    2646 ft · 59 sec · West Grove Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North State Street

    1147 ft · 39 sec · North State Street

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North State Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
8 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North 2nd Street
7.31 mi · 38%
State Route 173
5.55 mi · 29%
West Lane Road
4.95 mi · 26%
West Grove Street
0.5 mi · 3%
West State Street
0.48 mi · 2%
North 3rd Street
0.33 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

North 2nd Street

Continue on North 2nd Street

7.31 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 30m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.9 mi
15.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harlem
00h 15m from Rockford
Leave By
7:28 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Rockford and Partly Sunny near Poplar Grove.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rockford to Poplar Grove?

The road trip is about 19.3 miles (31.1 km) and usually takes 00h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Harlem is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.6 miles from Rockford and 9.7 miles from Poplar Grove.

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

The direct path is about 15.4 miles (24.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.56 one way or $5.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Rockford and Partly Sunny near Poplar Grove.

Stop Ideas Near Harlem

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

9 mi away
7559 Walton St.
BUS

South Beloit, Illinois

17 mi away
15766 Manchester Road
BUS

Janesville, Wisconsin

42 mi away
3120 North Pontiac Drive
BUS

Madison (South), Wisconsin

82 mi away
Hwy 51 & East Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rockford and Poplar Grove. Straight-line distance: 15.43 mi (24.84 km).

Rockford

#1 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Poplar Grove

#2 Poplar Grove

Human settlement

Population5,075
Coordinates42.3683500, -88.8220500
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: Rockford (-89.094, 42.27113)
End: Poplar Grove (-88.82205, 42.36835)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 31 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.68 gal
2.58 L · about $2.56
Round trip
$5.13
1.36 gal · 5.16 L
Estimated CO2
6 kg one way
Round trip: 12.1 kg / 27 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.56 $5.13
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.89 $5.78
Premium $4.65 $3.16 $6.33
Diesel $5.30 $3.61 $7.21

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Rockford and Poplar Grove. The current time is 20:08:00.

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.