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Rockford air right now

ModerateAQI 62

Rockford’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

62
AQI now
15.2
PM2.5 · µg/m³
Look farther for cleaner air

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Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

No verified road trips found within 3 hours.Try widening the range. We do not show crow-flight guesses.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Rockford Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Lake Geneva
Cel-shaded illustration of Lake Geneva
AQI 14
#1Lake GenevaChecking road route

Wisconsin· Good

Resort town on a spring-fed lake in southern Wisconsin, an easy open-water escape from Chicago, with lakeside resorts.

84% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2.5 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.5/22 × 7 = 0.8 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

12.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

84% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Spring Green
Cel-shaded illustration of Spring Green
AQI 17
#2Spring GreenChecking road route

Wisconsin· Good

Driftless-region village on the Wisconsin River near House on the Rock, with hilly river-valley air.

80% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

12.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

80% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Utica
Cel-shaded illustration of Utica
AQI 36
#3UticaChecking road route

Illinois· Good

Gateway to Starved Rock's sandstone canyons on the Illinois River, a wooded river-valley base with lodges.

57% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.5 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.5/22 × 7 = 2.1 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

57% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Madison
Cel-shaded illustration of Madison
AQI 48
#4MadisonChecking road route

Wisconsin· Good

A major Wisconsin city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

43% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 8.6 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8.6/22 × 7 = 2.7 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

43% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Madison University Ave monitor.

Directions
Milwaukee
Cel-shaded illustration of Milwaukee
AQI 52
#5MilwaukeeChecking road route

Wisconsin· Moderate

A major Wisconsin city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

35% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.9 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.9/22 × 7 = 3.1 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

35% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Milwaukee College Ave-Near Road monitor.

Directions
Galena
Cel-shaded illustration of Galena
AQI 55
#6GalenaChecking road route

Illinois· Moderate

Restored 19th-century town among the wooded bluffs of Illinois' driftless northwest, a hilly reset from the flatlands, with historic inns and B&Bs.

26% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 11.3 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11.3/22 × 7 = 3.6 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

26% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Potosi monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Chicago
Cel-shaded illustration of Chicago
AQI 60
#7ChicagoChecking road route

Illinois· Moderate

A major Illinois city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 14 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14/22 × 7 = 4.5 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
8% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the CHI_SP monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Roscoe
Cel-shaded illustration of Roscoe
AQI unavailable
#8RoscoeChecking road route

Illinois

Illinois community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Davis Junction
Cel-shaded illustration of Davis Junction
AQI unavailable
#9Davis JunctionChecking road route

Illinois

Illinois community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Rockton
Cel-shaded illustration of Rockton
AQI unavailable
#10RocktonChecking road route

Illinois

Illinois community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Belvidere
Cel-shaded illustration of Belvidere
AQI unavailable
#11BelvidereChecking road route

Illinois

Illinois community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Byron
Cel-shaded illustration of Byron
AQI unavailable
#12ByronChecking road route

Illinois

Illinois community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Michigan City
Cel-shaded illustration of Michigan City
AQI 23
#13Michigan CityChecking road route

Indiana· Good

Indiana Dunes lakefront town on Lake Michigan, an easy Chicago-area beach escape with open-water air.

72% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.2 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.2/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

72% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Cedarburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Cedarburg
AQI 26
#14CedarburgChecking road route

Wisconsin· Good

Historic mill town on Cedar Creek near Milwaukee, a walkable stone-building Main Street with inns.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.6 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.6/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

10.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Harrington Beach monitor.

Directions
Wisconsin Dells
Cel-shaded illustration of Wisconsin Dells
AQI 51
#15Wisconsin DellsChecking road route

Wisconsin· Moderate

Sandstone-gorge resort town on the Wisconsin River, with a huge stock of hotels and river-valley air.

40% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.1 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.1/22 × 7 = 2.9 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

40% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Devils Lake monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Peoria
Cel-shaded illustration of Peoria
AQI 80
#16PeoriaChecking road route

Illinois· Moderate

A major Illinois city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 24.9 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 24.9/22 × 7 = 7.9 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Rockford

64% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the PEORIA_J monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Henry
Cel-shaded illustration of Henry
AQI unavailable
#17HenryChecking road route

Illinois

Illinois community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Ludington
Cel-shaded illustration of Ludington
AQI 4
#18LudingtonChecking road route

Michigan· Good

Lake Michigan port town with a long public beach, swept by onshore lake wind, with harborside inns.

95% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

14.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

95% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Traverse City
Cel-shaded illustration of Traverse City
AQI 4
#19Traverse CityChecking road route

Michigan· Good

Resort city on Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan, where open bay water keeps air moving, with abundant waterfront lodging.

95% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

14.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

95% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Suttons Bay
Cel-shaded illustration of Suttons Bay
AQI 4
#20Suttons BayChecking road route

Michigan· Good

Leelanau Peninsula wine-country village on Grand Traverse Bay, with open-bay air and small inns.

95% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 15.2 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

14.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Rockford right now

95% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in Illinois →
Chicago air qualityPeoria air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Madison air qualityMilwaukee air qualityGreen Bay air qualityGrand Rapids air qualityFort Wayne air qualityIndianapolis air qualityDes Moines air qualitySt. Louis air qualityMinneapolis air qualityToledo air qualityDayton air qualityDetroit air quality

What this means · Rockford

Moderate

AQI 62

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 15.2 µg/m³ (Polluted), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Polluted.

15.2 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

4.8/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 15.2 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →