Origin
Cicero, IL
Evening in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
4h 2m
Distance
212.4 mi
342 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, IL
Dominik Gryzbon
Spanning 212.4 miles across the Illinois heartland, this trip from Cicero to Auburn typically takes about 4 hours and 2 minutes. Because the route is straightforward and manageable, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $32 on fuel to cover the distance. Navigating primarily via the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I-55, and IL-104, you will stay within the Midwest region for the duration of your travel. This is a practical, efficient corridor for those looking to move between these two points with minimal fuss. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, the drive offers a reliable transit path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.2 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 98% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will begin with a 127.8-mile stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. As you transition onto I-55 and eventually IL-104, the road maintains its interstate-driven personality, favoring speed and efficiency over winding local paths. The journey is designed for steady cruising rather than technical maneuvering, keeping the drive predictable from start to finish. You can anticipate a consistent, high-speed pace that makes the four-hour duration feel relatively uniform.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near South Central Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 212.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (South Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward IL 104: Pawnee, Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Cicero, IL to Auburn, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Springfield
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 127.8 mi | 2h 24m |
| I 55 | 75.3 mi | 1h 21m |
| IL 104 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| South Central Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 31st Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 5th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Auburn, IL.
Start on South Laramie Avenue
Turn right onto West 31st Street
Turn left onto South Central Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
Take the exit
Turn right onto IL 104
Turn right onto South 5th Street
Arrive at destination
To keep your trip stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the four-hour drive. Since the route is heavily reliant on I-55, try to avoid peak rush hours in the suburban segments to maintain your momentum. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early in the trip, as you will want to have your $32 budget ready for a fill-up once you clear the initial expressway traffic. Having only one major stop planned allows you to maintain a flexible schedule, giving you plenty of control over your arrival time in Auburn. Prioritize checking local traffic reports for the Adlai Stevenson Expressway before you pull out of Cicero to ensure a smooth departure.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.2 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cicero, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cicero, IL
This is one driving day of about 212.4 miles and 4h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.2 mi from Cicero, IL · 2h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 106.2 miles from Cicero, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.8 miles.
The final approach into Auburn, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Auburn, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$32.26 one way
$64.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $35.56 | $71.13 |
| premium | $4.80 | $40.10 | $80.19 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $47.19 | $94.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.30 | $10.20 |
| Efficient EV | 53.1 | 0 | $18.59 | $8.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85 | 1 | $29.74 | $13.59 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
53°F
Bloomington, IL
106 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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