Drive Time
5h 53m
Distance
372.3 mi
599 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
Photo: Claudia Solano
The drive from Metropolis, IL to Cicero, IL covers 372.3 miles and takes about 5h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ferry Street, West 10th Street, Pearl Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.27 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
186.1 miles from Metropolis, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 53m drive with frequent turns across 372.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
Navigation is easy, but the length (5h 53m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Metropolis, IL to Cicero, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pearl Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Columbia Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Big Bay Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Columbia | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 57 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Metropolis, IL and Cicero, IL.
Start on West 5th Street
Turn left onto Ferry Street
Turn left onto West 10th Street
Turn right onto Pearl Street
Turn slight left onto North Avenue
Continue on New Columbia Road
Turn right onto Big Bay Road
Take the ramp left toward New Columbia, Big Bay
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
Take the exit slight right toward Vollmer Road
Keep slight left to continue on Vollmer Road West
Turn right onto Vollmer Road
Turn left onto Cicero Avenue
Continue on South Cicero Avenue
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 82 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.1 miles or 2h 56m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cicero, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Metropolis, 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 Metropolis, IL
This is one driving day of about 372.3 miles and 5h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 186.1 mi from Metropolis, IL · 2h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
186 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.
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 186.1 miles from Metropolis, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$55.27 one way
$110.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $62.34 | $124.68 |
| premium | $4.65 | $68.22 | $136.43 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $77.74 | $155.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.7 | 1 | $39.09 | $17.87 |
| Efficient EV | 93.1 | 1 | $32.58 | $14.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 148.9 | 1 | $52.12 | $23.83 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Metropolis on Saturday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Cicero on Saturday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
54°F
Champaign, IL
186 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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