Origin
West Chicago, IL
Evening in West Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Chicago, IL to Cicero, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
45m
Distance
26.1 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Chicago, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Chicago, IL to Cicero, IL covers 26.1 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 290, East Saint Charles Road, Geneva Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.6 miles on I 290. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.08 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
13 miles from West Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from West Chicago, IL to Cicero, IL covers 26.1 miles and takes about 45m, 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 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 290 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.6 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (North Grace Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (East Saint Charles Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
7
10.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
North Grace Street
At end of road, turn right onto North Grace Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
10.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
East Saint Charles Road
Turn left onto East Saint Charles Road
Navigation decision point
5
15 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
23.6 mi into trip
|
~40m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| East Saint Charles Road | 7.4 mi | 13m |
| Geneva Road | 6.4 mi | 12m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Washington Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Roosevelt Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Central Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Grace Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 8.6 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Chicago, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on this road
41 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
49 ft
·
5 sec
3
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
4
Continue on Geneva Road
6.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Geneva Road
5
Continue on East Saint Charles Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Saint Charles Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto North Grace Street
234 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Grace Street
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto East Saint Charles Road
4.4 mi
·
8 min
·
East Saint Charles Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 290 East
9
Merge onto I 290
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 23B
Toward Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Central Avenue
12
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Roosevelt Road
13
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Laramie Avenue
14
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 13 miles from West Chicago, IL, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.6 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 26.1 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13 miles or 25m 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 West Chicago, 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 West Chicago, IL
This is one driving day of about 26.1 miles and 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Chicago, 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 I 290 for about 8.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13 mi from West Chicago, IL · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13 miles from West Chicago, 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
$4.08 one way
$8.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.02 | $10.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Cicero, IL
Evening in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 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
4 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
45m 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 West Chicago, IL to Cicero, IL covers 26.1 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 290, East Saint Charles Road, Geneva Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13 miles from West Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.08 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 26.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (North Grace Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (East Saint Charles Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from West Chicago, IL to Cicero, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cicero, IL
More trips to Cicero, IL
Explore more options from West Chicago, IL or browse trips ending in Cicero, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for West Chicago, IL or Cicero, IL on MapSof.net.