Origin
Glendale Heights, IL
Evening in Glendale Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale Heights, IL to Cicero, IL
Drive Time
35m
Distance
20.4 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale Heights, IL
Choco Kitty
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Glendale Heights to Cicero, you are looking at a straightforward 20.4-mile trek across the Illinois landscape. Clocking in at approximately 35 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including I-290, North Avenue, and West Saint Charles Road, to complete the journey. Budgeting roughly $3 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical drive for your itinerary. Because both locations sit within the Midwest, the transition is seamless and familiar. This route serves as a practical, no-fuss connection that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
10.2 miles from Glendale Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between high-speed infrastructure and local surface streets. With highway travel accounting for 42% of the journey, you will spend a portion of your time on I-290, which features the route's longest uninterrupted stretch of 8.6 miles. The character of the road shifts significantly as you move away from the interstate and onto North Avenue and West Saint Charles Road. Navigating these varied conditions requires you to stay alert as the rhythm of the drive changes from steady highway pacing to the stop-and-go nature of local roads. It is a functional commute that balances speed with the accessibility of suburban and urban corridors.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 290 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Winthrop Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Winthrop Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Glen Ellyn Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (West Saint Charles Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Winthrop Avenue
Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Glen Ellyn Road
At end of road, turn right onto Glen Ellyn Road
Navigation decision point
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
West Saint Charles Road
Turn left onto West Saint Charles Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
17.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23B
Toward Central Avenue
6
19 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
South Laramie Avenue
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| North Avenue | 5 mi | 9m |
| West Saint Charles Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Kingery Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Glen Ellyn Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Roosevelt Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Central Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 8.6 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale Heights, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on Highland Avenue
83 ft
·
10 sec
·
Highland Avenue
2
Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Winthrop Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Glen Ellyn Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Glen Ellyn Road
4
Turn left onto IL 64
5.0 mi
·
9 min
·
North Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto IL 83
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Kingery Highway
Use the none lane.
6
Turn left onto West Saint Charles Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Saint Charles Road
Use the none lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 290 East
8
Merge onto I 290
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
I 290
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 23B
Toward Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Central Avenue
Use the none lane.
11
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Roosevelt Road
12
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Laramie Avenue
Use the none lane.
13
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 35-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though monitoring real-time traffic on I-290 is always a smart move. You will not need to plan for any formal stops given the brief duration of the trip, allowing you to head straight to your destination. Keep your fuel gauge in mind, though the modest $3 cost means you can easily top off before you leave Glendale Heights without breaking your budget. Because you are navigating a mix of interstate and local roads, stay mindful of speed limit changes as you transition off the highway. Use this short window to enjoy a stress-free transit without the need for complex travel logistics.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.2 miles from Glendale Heights, IL, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.6 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 20.4 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.2 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cicero, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glendale Heights, 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 Glendale Heights, IL
This is one driving day of about 20.4 miles and 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Glendale Heights, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 290 for about 8.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.2 mi from Glendale Heights, IL · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.2 miles from Glendale Heights, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cicero, IL
The final approach into Cicero, 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 Cicero, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.10 one way
$6.20 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.42 | $6.83 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.85 | $7.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.53 | $9.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Cicero, IL
Evening in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
6:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
7 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
35m 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 Glendale Heights, IL to Cicero, IL covers 20.4 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 290, North Avenue, West Saint Charles Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.2 miles from Glendale Heights, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.10 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Winthrop Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Glen Ellyn Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (West Saint Charles Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Glendale Heights, IL to Cicero, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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