How far is Rockford, IL from Sycamore, IL?

The driving distance from Rockford, IL to Sycamore, IL is about 41.5 miles (66.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.6 miles (46 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
41.53 mi
00h 55m
Flight
28.56 mi
45.96 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rockford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.56 mi
Kilometers
45.96 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
41.53 mi
Kilometers
66.84 km
Drive Time
00h 55m

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 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sycamore
Thu, Apr 23, 10:26 AM CDT
Return by in Rockford
Thu, Apr 23, 11:22 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rockford
2026-04-23T09:31
Arrive Sycamore
Thu, Apr 23, 10:26 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rockford
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Monroe Center
IL

City in United States of America

From Rockford
20.8 mi
00h 27m
To Sycamore
20.8 mi
00h 27m

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
10 to 25 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    14 mi · 15 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 64: Sycamore, Oregon

    2304 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn left

    17.7 mi · 25 min

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
19 mi · 46%
South Main Street
3.91 mi · 9%
IL 64
0.44 mi · 1%
South Church Street
0.29 mi · 1%
West State Street
0.1 mi
Cedar Street
0.05 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

17.7 mi · 00h 25m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.9 mi
28.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Monroe Center
00h 27m from Rockford
Leave By
4:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Rockford and Mostly Sunny near Sycamore.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 41.5 miles (66.8 km) and usually takes 00h 55m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Monroe Center is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.8 miles from Rockford and 20.8 miles from Sycamore.

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

The direct path is about 28.6 miles (46 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.54 one way or $11.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Monroe Center

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

19 mi away
7559 Walton St.
BUS

South Beloit, Illinois

44 mi away
15766 Manchester Road
RAIL

Mendota station

62 mi away
783 Main Street
RAIL

Plano

62 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rockford and Sycamore. Straight-line distance: 28.56 mi (45.96 km).

Rockford

#1 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Sycamore

City in Illinois

Population18,317
Coordinates41.9889200, -88.6867500
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Start: Rockford (-89.094, 42.27113)
End: Sycamore (-88.68675, 41.98892)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 67 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.47 gal
5.55 L · about $5.54
Round trip
$11.09
2.94 gal · 11.1 L
Estimated CO2
13.1 kg one way
Round trip: 26.1 kg / 58 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.54 $11.09
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.25 $12.50
Premium $4.65 $6.84 $13.68
Diesel $5.30 $7.80 $15.59

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 Sycamore. The current time is 09:31:09.

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.