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Trip from Madison, IL to Cicero, IL

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

5h 24m

Distance

288.9 mi

465 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 11m ★
6 AM
5h 24m
8 AM
5h 51m
10 AM
5h 33m
12 PM
5h 31m
3 PM
5h 35m
5 PM
5h 50m
8 PM
5h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Madison, IL, IL

Madison, IL

Samual lim

Trip Overview

The drive from Madison, IL to Cicero, IL covers 288.9 miles and takes about 5h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Madison Avenue, 2nd Street, I 55 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.17 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

144.5 miles from Madison, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 24m drive with frequent turns across 288.9 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.
Madison Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, IL to Cicero, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Madison Avenue
2nd Street
I 55 North
IL 50
South Cicero Avenue
West 31st Street
South Laramie Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Madison Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison, IL and Cicero, IL.

1

Start on 6th Street

144 ft · 12 sec · 6th Street
2

Turn left onto Madison Avenue

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Madison Avenue
3

Turn left onto 2nd Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 2nd Street
4

At the end of the road, turn right

2.1 mi · 3 min
5

Turn straight

0.5 mi · 41 sec
6

Take the ramp slight right

0.3 mi · 33 sec
7

Merge slight left

15 mi · 17 min
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City

108 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
9

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago

29 mi · 31 min · I 55 North: Chicago
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

130 mi · 2 hr 27 min · I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
11

Take the exit slight right toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue

0.3 mi · 52 sec · IL 50: Cicero Avenue
12

Turn left onto South Cicero Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Cicero Avenue
13

Turn left onto West 31st Street

0.5 mi · 58 sec · West 31st Street
14

Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Laramie Avenue
15

Arrive at your destination

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 144.5 miles from Madison, IL, or about 2h 42m into the drive.

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 64 miles or 1h 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 144.5 miles or 2h 42m 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 25m

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 Madison, 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 Madison, IL

This is one driving day of about 288.9 miles and 5h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Madison, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 144.5 mi from Madison, IL · 2h 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

144 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.

Popular next leg

Bloomington, IL to Cicero, IL

128.1 mi · 2h 32m

Pacing Suggestions

Carlinville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 144.5 miles from Madison, 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

$45.17 one way

$90.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $49.59 $99.18
premium $4.89 $55.60 $111.19
diesel $5.61 $63.79 $127.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 101.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 86.7 1 $30.33 $13.87
Efficient EV 72.2 0 $25.28 $11.56
EV Truck/SUV 115.6 1 $40.45 $18.49

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 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 12, 2026

Origin

Madison, IL

Evening in Madison on Wednesday

Local time

6:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cicero, IL

Evening in Cicero on Wednesday

Local time

6:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Bloomington, IL

144 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

19 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 24m 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 Madison, IL to Cicero, IL covers 288.9 miles and takes about 5h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Madison Avenue, 2nd Street, I 55 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144.5 miles from Madison, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.17 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 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, IL to Cicero, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Madison, IL to Cicero, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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