Trip from North Aurora, IL to Cicero, IL

Drive Time

47m

Distance

34.6 mi

56 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 43m ★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m

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

Downtown North Aurora, IL, IL

North Aurora, IL

Kristen Nagy

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from North Aurora to Cicero, you are looking at a 34.6-mile trip that typically takes about 47 minutes. This Midwest route is a straightforward journey that perfectly suits a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, it is an affordable way to cross the region. You will spend your time navigating a mix of major tollways and local streets, making it a functional drive rather than a scenic getaway. Because the distance is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to hit the road whenever it best fits your plans.

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

17.3 miles from North Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a drive defined by a blend of high-speed commuting and technical local navigation. You will spend 21% of your journey on highways, including a significant 23.8-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. After transitioning off the tollway, the experience shifts as you merge onto the Eisenhower Expressway and eventually navigate the turn-heavy local roads of South Laramie Avenue. This progression means you start with a fast, uninterrupted cruise before moving into the more demanding, stop-and-go environment of the final leg. It is a practical drive that keeps you focused as the environment changes from open highway lanes to urban surface streets.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 23.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near IL 56.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 34.6 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 0.9 miles (IL 56): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

7
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | IL 56

Take the ramp onto IL 56 toward I 88 Toll, IL 56 Toll West: Chicago, DeKalb-Iowa

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 88 Toll, IL 56 Toll West: Chicago, DeK...
8
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 88 East: Chicago
5
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
19.1 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.1 mi into trip | ~42m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 23.8 mi 29m
Eisenhower Expressway 7 mi 9m
South Laramie Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
South Lincolnway Street 0.8 mi 1m
West Roosevelt Road 0.5 mi <1m
South Central Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
IL 56 <0.1 mi <1m
West State Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway — 23.8 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West State Street

68 ft · 7 sec · West State Street
2

Turn right onto IL 31; IL 56

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Lincolnway Street
3

Take the ramp onto IL 56

416 ft · 10 sec · IL 56
Toward I 88 Toll, IL 56 Toll West: Chicago, DeKalb-Iowa Use the right lane.
4

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 88 East: Chicago Use the slight right lane.
5

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 21 sec · this road
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
6

Merge onto I 88; IL 110

18 mi · 22 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110

6.0 mi · 7 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 290; IL 110

7.0 mi · 9 min · Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 23B Toward Central Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn right onto South Central Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · South Central Avenue
11

Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road

0.5 mi · 57 sec · West Roosevelt Road
12

Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Laramie Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

South Laramie Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 47-minute trip, you have the advantage of being able to leave at a time that avoids the heaviest traffic patterns. While you do not need to plan for any formal stops along the 34.6-mile path, keep your fuel levels in mind before you depart to ensure your $5 budget is used efficiently. Pay close attention to your GPS as you transition from the expressway to the local streets of Cicero, as the turn-heavy nature of the final miles requires extra vigilance. Given the lack of required stops, use this flexibility to adjust your departure to steer clear of peak congestion on the Eisenhower Expressway. Staying alert during the final transition onto South Laramie Avenue will ensure you reach your destination smoothly.

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 17.3 miles from North Aurora, IL, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.8 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 34.6 miles or 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 17.3 miles or 22m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 38m

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 North Aurora, 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 North Aurora, IL

This is one driving day of about 34.6 miles and 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Aurora, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 23.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.3 mi from North Aurora, IL · 22m into the drive

Downtown Berwyn, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Berwyn, IL

17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wheaton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from North Aurora, 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

$5.26 one way

$10.51 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $5.79 $11.59
premium $4.80 $6.53 $13.06
diesel $5.64 $7.69 $15.37

Estimated Tolls: $1.43

Reagan Memorial Tollway (23.8 mi) $1.43

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

$5

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.4 0 $3.63 $1.66
Efficient EV 8.7 0 $3.03 $1.38
EV Truck/SUV 13.8 0 $4.84 $2.21

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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 2 days ago

Origin

North Aurora, IL

Evening in North Aurora on Sunday

Local time

7:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cicero, IL

Evening in Cicero on Sunday

Local time

7:52 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

6 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

47m 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 North Aurora, IL to Cicero, IL covers 34.6 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Eisenhower Expressway, South Laramie Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.3 miles from North Aurora, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.26 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 10 significant decision points across 34.6 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 0.9 miles (IL 56): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from North Aurora, IL to Cicero, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Cicero, IL to North Aurora, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

35 mi 47m

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