The drive from Cicero, IL to Colona, IL covers 155 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, Eisenhower Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 96.4 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.5 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 155 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 55m drive with frequent turns across 155 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 96.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 155 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
9.6 mi into trip|~14m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora...
8
11.5 mi into trip|~17m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
36.5 mi into trip|~47m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
5
154.3 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Colona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Colona
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cicero, IL and Colona, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Indiana
9.6 mi in|~14m|via I 88; IL 110
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
11.5 mi in|~17m|via I 88; IL 110
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
96.4 mi
1h 47m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi
41m
Eisenhower Expressway
7.1 mi
9m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.4 mi
5m
IL 110
3.5 mi
4m
South Laramie Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Cleveland Road
0.6 mi
1m
West Flournoy Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 96.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Colona, IL.
1
Start on South Laramie Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·South Laramie Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Turn left onto West Flournoy Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·West Flournoy Street
3
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·25 sec·this road
Toward I 290 WestUse the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
7.1 mi·9 min·Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
1.9 mi·2 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 15AToward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
25 mi·30 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalbUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
10
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit onto IL 110
3.5 mi·4 min·IL 110
Toward I 80: Peoria
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward Colona
13
Keep slight right at fork
148 ft·5 sec
Toward Colona
14
Turn straight onto Cleveland Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Cleveland Road
15
Arrive at destination
Cleveland Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.5 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.4 miles.
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 34 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.5 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colona, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 155 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Cicero, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 96.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.5 mi from Cicero, IL
· 1h 31m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.23 one way
$48.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.61
$53.21
premium
$4.89
$29.83
$59.66
diesel
$5.61
$34.22
$68.44
Estimated Tolls: $5.78
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(96.4 mi)$5.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.5
0
$16.28
$7.44
Efficient EV
38.8
0
$13.56
$6.20
EV Truck/SUV
62
0
$21.70
$9.92
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Friday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colona, IL
Late night
in Colona on Friday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Aurora, IL
78 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 55m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cicero, IL to Colona, IL covers 155 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, Eisenhower Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77.5 miles from Cicero, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 155 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cicero, IL and Colona, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
