Origin
Northfield, IL
Night in Northfield on Wednesday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northfield, IL to Cicero, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
34m
Distance
21.4 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northfield, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
This quick 21.4-mile drive from Northfield, IL, to Cicero, IL, is easily manageable in about 34 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Edens Expressway and local roads like North Pulaski Road and South Laramie Avenue, with 51% of the journey on highways. You can expect a low fuel cost of around $3 for this short hop within the Midwest. The mixed driving profile means you'll experience both faster expressway travel and more local road navigation. Given its brevity, this trip doesn't require an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
10.7 miles from Northfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a substantial 51% of your travel occurring on highways like the Edens Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 10.5 miles on this expressway, offering a period of consistent speed. As you transition off the expressway, the drive shifts to local roads such as North Pulaski Road and South Laramie Avenue, introducing more traffic signals and varied speed limits. This blend means you'll encounter both the efficiency of highway travel and the more grounded experience of navigating through communities.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Wagner Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Wagner Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 94; US 41 / Edens Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Wagner Road
Turn left onto Wagner Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 94; US 41 / Edens Expressway
Merge onto I 94; US 41 / Edens Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, Keeler Avenue
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 44A
Toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, Keeler Avenue
5
14.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
18.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Turn left onto IL 50 / North Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 10.5 mi | 13m |
| North Pulaski Road | 5 mi | 9m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Cicero Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Madison Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Willow Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Roosevelt Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 10.5 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northfield, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on Bosworth Lane
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
Bosworth Lane
2
Turn left onto Wagner Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Wagner Road
3
Turn right onto Willow Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 94 East, US 41 South: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94; US 41
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Kennedy Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 44A
Toward IL 19: Irving Park Road, Keeler Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on Kennedy Irving Park Road
389 ft
·
16 sec
·
Kennedy Irving Park Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Turn slight left onto IL 19
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Irving Park Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto North Pulaski Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Pulaski Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Belden Avenue
12
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
North Pulaski Road
13
Turn right onto West Madison Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Madison Street
14
Turn left onto IL 50
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto West Roosevelt Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Roosevelt Road
16
Turn left onto South Laramie Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Laramie Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a short 34-minute drive covering just 21.4 miles, flexibility is your greatest asset. You can easily complete this trip in one go without needing to stop for rest. However, if you prefer to break it up, consider timing your departure to avoid peak traffic on the Edens Expressway. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $3, so you won't need to worry much about refueling. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention when exiting the Edens Expressway onto North Pulaski Road, as the transition can be busy.
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 10.7 miles from Northfield, IL, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.5 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 21 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.7 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cicero, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Northfield, IL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Northfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 21.4 miles and 34m.
At 21.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Edens Expressway for about 10.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.7 mi from Northfield, IL · 14m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.7 miles from Northfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cicero, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cicero, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.35 one way
$6.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.67 | $7.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.72 | $9.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 57% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (57% 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.
Destination
Cicero, IL
Night in Cicero on Wednesday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
34m 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 Northfield, IL to Cicero, IL covers 21.4 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, North Pulaski Road, South Laramie Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.7 miles from Northfield, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.35 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Wagner Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 94; US 41 / Edens Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Northfield, IL to Cicero, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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