The drive from Cicero, IL to Mount Vernon, IL covers 273.3 miles and takes about 5h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, South Cicero Avenue, Cicero Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 251.1 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.73 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
136.7 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 273.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 5h 9m highway drive covering 273.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and South Cicero Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 251.1 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 11 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 251.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and South Cicero Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near West 31st Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 9m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 7 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
270.2 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward IL 15: Ashley, Mt. Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 15: Ashley, Mt. Vernon
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
251.1 mi
4h 31m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
Cicero Avenue
6.6 mi
10m
Broadway Street
2.8 mi
5m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
167th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 251.1 mi, about 4h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Mount Vernon, 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
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward IL 15: Ashley, Mt. Vernon
10
Turn straight onto IL 15
2.8 mi·5 min·Broadway Street
11
Arrive at destination
IL 15
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 136.7 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 251.1 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 60 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.7 miles or 2h 39m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Vernon, 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 273.3 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 251.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.7 mi from Cicero, IL
· 2h 39m 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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82
1
$28.70
$13.12
Efficient EV
68.3
0
$23.91
$10.93
EV Truck/SUV
109.3
1
$38.26
$17.49
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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
Late night
in Cicero on Saturday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mount Vernon, IL
Late night
in Mount Vernon on Saturday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
4 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 9m 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 Mount Vernon, IL covers 273.3 miles and takes about 5h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, South Cicero Avenue, Cicero Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.7 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 $42.73 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 is a straightforward 5h 9m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from Cicero, IL to Mount Vernon, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
