The drive from Mount Pleasant, IL to Cicero, IL covers 339.6 miles and takes about 6h 22m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, Cicero Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 178.5 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.09 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
169.8 miles from Mount Pleasant, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 22m. Total distance: 339.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 22m highway drive covering 339.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 178.5 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 0.6 miles in near IL 146 / 750N.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 339.6 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 0.6 miles (IL 146 / 750N): Navigation decision point; at 137.8 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 316.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|IL 146 / 750N
At end of road, turn right onto IL 146 / 750N
Navigation decision point
7
137.8 mi into trip|~2h 32m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
316.4 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
316.7 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
338.5 mi into trip|~6h 20m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mount Pleasant, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
Vollmer Road West
316.7 mi in|~5h 44m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
178.5 mi
3h 11m
Ken Gray Expressway
133 mi
2h 23m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
765N
1.1 mi
1m
745N
1 mi
1m
750N
1 mi
1m
740N
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on Mt Pleasant Road
0.6 mi·2 min·Mt Pleasant Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto IL 146
0.7 mi·1 min·750N
3
Continue on IL 146
0.8 mi·1 min·740N
4
Continue on IL 146
1.0 mi·1 min·745N
5
Continue on IL 146
0.3 mi·22 sec·750N
6
Continue on IL 146
1.1 mi·1 min·765N
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
8
Merge onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·Ken Gray Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
179 mi·3 hr 11 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
14
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on IL 50
11 mi·17 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.8 miles from Mount Pleasant, IL, or about 3h 6m 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.8 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 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 Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, IL
This is one driving day of about 339.6 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 169.8 mi from Mount Pleasant, IL
· 3h 6m into the drive
The midpoint is around 169.8 miles from Mount Pleasant, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 327.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.09 one way
$106.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$58.29
$116.59
premium
$4.89
$65.35
$130.71
diesel
$5.61
$74.98
$149.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.9
1
$35.66
$16.30
Efficient EV
84.9
0
$29.72
$13.58
EV Truck/SUV
135.8
1
$47.54
$21.73
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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 15, 2026
Origin
Mount Pleasant, IL
Morning
in Mount Pleasant on Thursday
Local time
11:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cicero, IL
Morning
in Cicero on Thursday
Local time
11:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
23 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
6h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IL to Cicero, IL covers 339.6 miles and takes about 6h 22m 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 169.8 miles from Mount Pleasant, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 11 significant decision points across 339.6 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 0.6 miles (IL 146 / 750N): Navigation decision point; at 137.8 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 316.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Mount Pleasant, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
