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Trip from South Elgin, IL to Cicero, IL

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

53m

Distance

34.3 mi

55 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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village in Kane County, Illinois, United States of America

South Elgin, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from South Elgin, IL to Cicero, IL covers 34.3 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 20, West Lake Street, Lake Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.3 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.36 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

17.1 miles from South Elgin, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from South Elgin, IL to Cicero, IL covers 34.3 miles and takes about 53m, 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 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.3 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East State Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 34.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Gilbert Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Middle Street): Navigation decision point.

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 mi into trip | ~0m in | East State Street

Turn right onto East State Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Gilbert Street

Turn right onto South Gilbert Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Middle Street

Turn left onto East Middle Street

Navigation decision point

6
20.5 mi into trip | ~32m in | US 20

Take the ramp onto US 20 toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago

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

Use the left lane. Toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
7
31.8 mi into trip | ~48m 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
US 20 11.3 mi 15m
West Lake Street 8.1 mi 11m
Lake Street 6.7 mi 10m
Bartlett Road 3.1 mi 5m
South Laramie Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
East Middle Street 1.2 mi 2m
South Sutton Road 0.9 mi 1m
West Roosevelt Road 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 20 — 11.3 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Center Street

39 ft · 3 sec · South Center Street
2

Turn right onto East State Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East State Street
3

Turn right onto South Gilbert Street

340 ft · 12 sec · South Gilbert Street
4

Turn left onto East Middle Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Middle Street
5

Continue on CR 61

3.1 mi · 5 min · Bartlett Road
Use the left lane.
6

Turn left onto IL 59

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Use the right lane.
8

Merge onto US 20

3.1 mi · 3 min · West Lake Street
9

Continue on US 20

6.7 mi · 10 min · Lake Street
10

Continue on US 20

5.1 mi · 8 min · West Lake Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
11

Take the ramp onto US 20

11 mi · 15 min · US 20
Toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago Use the left lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 23B Toward Central Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto South Central Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · South Central Avenue
14

Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road

0.5 mi · 57 sec · West Roosevelt Road
15

Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Laramie Avenue
16

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 17.1 miles from South Elgin, IL, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.3 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 34.3 miles or 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 17.1 miles or 27m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 44m

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 South Elgin, 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 South Elgin, IL

This is one driving day of about 34.3 miles and 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Elgin, 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 US 20 for about 11.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.1 mi from South Elgin, IL · 27m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Schaumburg, 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 34.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Schaumburg, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.1 miles from South Elgin, 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 34.3
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

$5.36 one way

$10.72 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.89 $11.78
premium $4.89 $6.60 $13.20
diesel $5.61 $7.57 $15.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.3 0 $3.60 $1.65
Efficient EV 8.6 0 $3.00 $1.37
EV Truck/SUV 13.7 0 $4.80 $2.20

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 5 days ago

Origin

South Elgin, IL

Afternoon in South Elgin on Tuesday

Local time

4:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cicero, IL

Afternoon in Cicero on Tuesday

Local time

4:04 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

53m 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 South Elgin, IL to Cicero, IL covers 34.3 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, West Lake Street, Lake Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.1 miles from South Elgin, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.36 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 34.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Gilbert Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Middle Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from South Elgin, IL to Cicero, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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