How far is South Shore, IL from Rockford, IL?

The driving distance from South Shore, IL to Rockford, IL is about 98.2 miles (158 km), with a travel time of about 02h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 85.4 miles (137.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
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
98.2 mi
02h 01m
Flight
85.41 mi
137.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Shore.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
85.41 mi
Kilometers
137.45 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
98.2 mi
Kilometers
158.03 km
Drive Time
02h 01m

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 02h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rockford
Tue, Nov 10, 8:54 AM CST
Return by in South Shore
Tue, Nov 10, 10:56 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Shore
2026-11-10T06:53
Arrive Rockford
Tue, Nov 10, 8:54 AM CST
Route Timing
02h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 PM CST

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

Leave by
2:26 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Shore
9:30 PM CST
Morning start is best

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
Elgin
IL

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

From South Shore
48 mi
01h 00m
To Rockford
50.2 mi
01h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
61°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Nov 10 6:00 AM CST
Wind
0 to 5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Shore and Rockford.

  1. 1

    Start on South Euclid Avenue

    57 m · 10 sec · South Euclid Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East 73rd Street

    152 m · 26 sec · East 73rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Jeffery Boulevard

    1324 ft · 40 sec · South Jeffery Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East 75th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · East 75th Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South South Chicago Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South South Chicago Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive

    2471 ft · 54 sec · South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive

  7. 7

    Turn left

    77 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East 63rd Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · East 63rd Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Wentworth Avenue

    47 m · 4 sec · South Wentworth Avenue

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 90 West, I 94 West

    1110 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight left toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: 22nd Street

    2060 ft · 50 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    4.5 mi · 7 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  14. 14

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Montrose Avenue

    1041 ft · 29 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · West Montrose Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Milwaukee Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North Northwest Highway

    21 m · 2 sec · North Northwest Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on North Northwest Highway

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Northwest Highway

  20. 20

    Turn slight left onto West Bryn Mawr Avenue

    1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bryn Mawr Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on West Higgins Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · West Higgins Road

  22. 22

    Take the ramp right toward I 90 Toll West

    1334 ft · 33 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    61.5 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 Business, State Street

    2076 ft · 50 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight right

    857 ft · 21 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto East State Street

    6 mi · 10 min · East State Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto East Jefferson Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · East Jefferson Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto North Wyman Street

    793 ft · 24 sec · North Wyman Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto West State Street

    23 m · 2 sec · West State Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
61.5 mi · 63%
Kennedy Expressway
7.92 mi · 8%
East State Street
6.04 mi · 6%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
4.54 mi · 5%
West Higgins Road
3.08 mi · 3%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
1.87 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

61.5 mi · 01h 06m

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
02h 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.8 mi
85.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elgin
01h 00m from South Shore
Leave By
2:26 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving South Shore and Sunny near Rockford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Shore to Rockford?

The road trip is about 98.2 miles (158 km) and usually takes 02h 01m 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?

Elgin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48 miles from South Shore and 50.2 miles from Rockford.

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

The direct path is about 85.4 miles (137.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.8 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:26 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.60 one way or $31.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around South Shore and Sunny near Rockford.

Stop Ideas Near Elgin

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

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

RAIL

Naperville

31 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

40 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

42 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

47 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Shore and Rockford. Straight-line distance: 85.41 mi (137.45 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 South Shore

South Shore is a place in Illinois, United States.

Population0
Coordinates41.7619800, -87.5778300
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Rockford

#2 Rockford

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population144,835
Coordinates42.2711300, -89.0940000
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Start: South Euclid Avenue (-87.578043, 41.761978)
End: West State Street (-89.094046, 42.271066)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 158 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.47 gal
13.12 L · about $15.60
Round trip
$31.20
6.94 gal · 26.24 L
Estimated CO2
30.8 kg one way
Round trip: 61.7 kg / 136 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.50 $15.60 $31.20
Mid-grade $5.12 $17.76 $35.52
Premium $5.68 $19.70 $39.40
Diesel $6.52 $22.63 $45.26

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 · Nov 09, 2026

There is no time difference between South Shore and Rockford. The current time is 06:53:11.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.