Origin
Johnston City, IL
Afternoon in Johnston City on Sunday
Local time
3:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnston City, IL to Cicero, IL
Drive Time
5h 46m
Distance
307.4 mi
495 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 33m
★
6 AM
5h 46m
8 AM
6h 12m
10 AM
5h 55m
12 PM
5h 53m
3 PM
5h 57m
5 PM
6h 11m
8 PM
5h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnston City, IL
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Spanning 307.4 miles across Illinois, this journey from Johnston City to Cicero is a straightforward trek through the heart of the Midwest. You should plan for approximately 5 hours and 46 minutes of travel time, making this a manageable single-day trip for most drivers. With a fuel budget of about $47, the route is economically predictable, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Because the drive is essentially a direct north-bound transit, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics unless you prefer a more leisurely pace. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that connects the southern reaches of the state to the Chicago metropolitan area efficiently.
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
153.7 miles from Johnston City, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 92% of this trip takes place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-57, including a significant, uninterrupted 178.5-mile stretch that defines the core of your journey. The transition from the Ken Gray Expressway onto the interstate keeps your momentum steady for most of the drive. As you approach the final leg, the environment shifts when you exit onto Cicero Avenue to reach your destination. This is a high-speed, interstate-heavy drive designed for consistency rather than technical maneuvering.
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 178.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 105.6 miles in near I 57.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 307.4 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 105.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
105.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
284.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 7m in
Take the exit toward Vollmer Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road
9
284.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Vollmer Road West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road West
6
306.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 43m in
|
West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
306.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 44m in
|
South Laramie Avenue
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Johnston City, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
Vollmer Road West
284.5 mi in
|
~5h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 178.5 mi | 3h 11m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 104.1 mi | 1h 52m |
| Cicero Avenue | 10.8 mi | 17m |
| South Cicero Avenue | 10.6 mi | 17m |
| East Broadway Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 31st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Vollmer Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnston City, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto East 9th Street
49 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 9th Street
3
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Washington Avenue
4
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Broadway Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
6
Merge onto I 57
37 mi
·
39 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
179 mi
·
3 hr 11 min
·
I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft
·
17 sec
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Vollmer Road
12
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi
·
17 min
·
Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 50
11 mi
·
17 min
·
South Cicero Avenue
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Laramie Avenue
Use the none lane.
16
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 307.4-mile trek, aim for an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic congestion as you near the Cicero area. You only need to plan for one main stop, which provides a perfect opportunity to refuel and stretch your legs halfway through the trip. Keep a close eye on your odometer during that long 178.5-mile stretch on I-57 to ensure you are pacing your breaks effectively. Since the route is so heavily reliant on major highways, remain alert for changing speed limits as you transition from open interstate to local roads. Having your $47 fuel budget ready in advance will help keep your travel planning stress-free.
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 153.7 miles from Johnston City, IL, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.5 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.7 miles or 2h 47m 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 33m
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 Johnston City, 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 Johnston City, IL
This is one driving day of about 307.4 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Johnston City, 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 178.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 153.7 mi from Johnston City, IL · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
154 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 153.7 miles from Johnston City, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 178.5 miles.
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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.69 one way
$93.38 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
108 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $51.47 | $102.94 |
| premium | $4.80 | $58.03 | $116.06 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $68.29 | $136.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.2 | 1 | $32.28 | $14.76 |
| Efficient EV | 76.9 | 0 | $26.90 | $12.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 123 | 1 | $43.04 | $19.67 |
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Destination
Cicero, IL
Afternoon in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
3:06 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
29 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
5h 46m 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 Johnston City, IL to Cicero, IL covers 307.4 miles and takes about 5h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, 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 153.7 miles from Johnston City, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.69 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 307.4 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 105.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Johnston City, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
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