The drive from Cicero, IL to Du Quoin, IL covers 312.9 miles and takes about 5h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, State Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 254.2 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
156.5 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 312.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 58m highway drive covering 312.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 254.2 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 254.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near West 31st Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 312.9 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 0.6 miles (West 31st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Turn right onto IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
19 mi into trip|~31m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
207.5 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
293.2 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Take the exit toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cicero, IL to Du Quoin, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Benton along the way.
Benton
293.2 mi in|~5h 28m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
254.2 mi
4h 34m
Ken Gray Expressway
20 mi
21m
State Street
12.6 mi
18m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
Cicero Avenue
6.6 mi
10m
Illinois Route 14
3.8 mi
5m
South Washington Street
2.7 mi
4m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 254.2 mi, about 4h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Du Quoin, IL.
1
Start on South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
3
Turn right onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on IL 50
6.6 mi·10 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left onto 167th Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·167th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
7
Merge onto I 57
188 mi·3 hr 23 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi·21 min·Ken Gray Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
11
Turn right onto IL 14
0.2 mi·25 sec·West Main Street
12
Continue on IL 14
3.8 mi·5 min·Illinois Route 14
13
Continue on IL 14
13 mi·18 min·State Street
14
Turn right onto US 51
2.7 mi·4 min·South Washington Street
15
Turn right onto East Main Street
32 ft·1 sec·East Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 156.5 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.2 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 69 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.5 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Du Quoin, 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 312.9 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 I 57 for about 254.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 156.5 mi from Cicero, IL
· 3h into the drive
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
$20 to $30
mile 201.2
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 10.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.92 one way
$97.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$53.71
$107.42
premium
$4.89
$60.21
$120.43
diesel
$5.61
$69.08
$138.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.9
1
$32.85
$15.02
Efficient EV
78.2
0
$27.38
$12.52
EV Truck/SUV
125.2
1
$43.81
$20.03
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning
in Cicero on Friday
Local time
9:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Du Quoin, IL
Morning
in Du Quoin on Friday
Local time
9:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 58m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cicero, IL to Du Quoin, IL covers 312.9 miles and takes about 5h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, State Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 156.5 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 $48.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 312.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (West 31st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Cicero, IL to Du Quoin, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Benton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
