Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Marengo, IL to Cicero, IL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

61.3 mi

99 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States

Marengo, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Marengo, IL to Cicero, IL covers 61.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, I 290, East Grant Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.1 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.58 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

30.7 miles from Marengo, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Marengo, IL to Cicero, IL covers 61.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 25.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 61.3 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 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
9.1 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
8
34.6 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 68A-B Toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
9
35.1 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 68A Toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West S...
7
41.4 mi into trip | ~50m in | I 290

Keep slight right at fork onto I 290 toward I 290 East: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 290 East: Chicago
7
58.9 mi into trip | ~1h 13m 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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Marengo, IL and Cicero, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Suburbs.

Rockford

8.8 mi in | ~12m

Suburbs

34.6 mi in | ~40m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 25.1 mi 26m
I 290 23.2 mi 30m
East Grant Highway 8.4 mi 11m
South Laramie Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
West Roosevelt Road 0.5 mi <1m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway 0.4 mi <1m
South Central Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
South State Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 25.1 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on IL 23

108 ft · 7 sec · South State Street
2

Turn left onto US 20

4.4 mi · 6 min · East Grant Highway
3

Enter roundabout onto US 20

110 ft · 2 sec · East Grant Highway
4

Continue on US 20

3.3 mi · 4 min · East Grant Highway
5

Enter roundabout onto US 20

114 ft · 1 sec · East Grant Highway
6

Continue on US 20

0.7 mi · 54 sec · East Grant Highway
7

Continue on US 20

0.4 mi · 37 sec · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Chicago, Rockford
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 90

25 mi · 26 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 68A-B Toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 68A Toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs Use the slight right lane.
13

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · this road
Exit 68A Toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
14

Merge onto I 290; IL 53

5.7 mi · 7 min · I 290; IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 290

18 mi · 23 min · I 290
Toward I 290 East: Chicago Use the slight right lane.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 23B Toward Central Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn right onto South Central Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · South Central Avenue
18

Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road

0.5 mi · 57 sec · West Roosevelt Road
19

Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Laramie Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

South Laramie Avenue

Trip Plan

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 30.7 miles from Marengo, IL, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.1 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 61.3 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30.7 miles or 36m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 4m

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 Marengo, 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 Marengo, IL

This is one driving day of about 61.3 miles and 1h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Marengo, 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 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 25.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.7 mi from Marengo, IL · 36m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Schaumburg, IL

31 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

Berwyn, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Schaumburg, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Marengo, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

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...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 61.3
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.58 one way

$19.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.52 $21.04
premium $4.89 $11.80 $23.59
diesel $5.61 $13.53 $27.07

Estimated Tolls: $1.76

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (25.1 mi) $1.76

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.4 0 $6.44 $2.94
Efficient EV 15.3 0 $5.36 $2.45
EV Truck/SUV 24.5 0 $8.58 $3.92

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Marengo, IL

Evening in Marengo on Tuesday

Local time

7:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cicero, IL

Evening in Cicero on Tuesday

Local time

7:50 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

2 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

1h 18m 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 Marengo, IL to Cicero, IL covers 61.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, I 290, East Grant Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.7 miles from Marengo, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.58 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 61.3 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 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Marengo, IL and Cicero, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Suburbs.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Cicero, IL

Metropolis, IL 360.8 mi · 6h 44m Sleepy Hollow, IL 324.4 mi · 6h 7m Sparta, IL 316.7 mi · 6h 20m Johnston City, IL 307.6 mi · 5h 45m

More from Marengo, IL

Chicago, IL 63.3 mi · 1h 24m Waukegan, IL 47 mi · 1h 15m Elgin, IL 24.5 mi · 33m

More trips to Cicero, IL

Metropolis, IL 358.6 mi Sleepy Hollow, IL 323.9 mi Sparta, IL 317.3 mi Johnston City, IL 307.4 mi Logan, IL 300.1 mi Columbia, IL 299.8 mi

Explore more options from Marengo, IL or browse trips ending in Cicero, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Explore maps for Marengo, IL or Cicero, IL on MapSof.net.