Traveling from Breese to Cicero covers 281.2 miles across the Illinois landscape. Expect the journey to take approximately 5 hours and 19 minutes, making it a manageable single-day trip for most drivers. You should budget about $42 for fuel to complete this transit. Since the route utilizes local roads like Route 50 West, North Walnut Street, and Jamestown Road rather than major interstates, it offers a different pace than a standard highway cruise. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive comfortably. This journey stays entirely within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you head north.
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
140.6 miles from Breese, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
225.2 mi
4h 2m
US 50
15.9 mi
18m
Franklin Street
14.1 mi
16m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
12th Street
1 mi
1m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
North Walnut Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 225.2 mi, about 4h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Breese, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on Old Route 50 West
336 ft·15 sec·Old Route 50 West
2
Turn left onto North Walnut Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·North Walnut Street
3
Continue on Jamestown Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·Jamestown Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
5
Merge onto US 50
8.1 mi·9 min·US 50
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 50; IL 127
1.0 mi·1 min·12th Street
7
Turn left onto US 50
14 mi·16 min·Franklin Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; US 51
0.2 mi·14 sec·N Mine St
9
Continue on US 50; US 51
347 ft·4 sec·North Mine Street
10
Take the exit
134 ft·3 sec
11
Turn right onto US 50
7.8 mi·9 min·US 50
12
Turn left
0.4 mi·54 sec
13
Merge onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·I 57
14
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.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
18
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on IL 50
11 mi·17 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 281.2-mile route, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to navigate the winding roads in daylight. Since the drive is local-focused, pacing is key; plan your one required stop to coincide with a stretch where you can stretch your legs away from the driver's seat. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can lead to unpredictable consumption compared to steady highway driving, and ensure your $42 budget accounts for local pricing fluctuations. Because this trip is a single-day commitment, take advantage of the flexibility to adjust your speed based on the specific road conditions you encounter on Jamestown Road or North Walnut Street. Always prioritize navigation apps to stay on track through the numerous turns.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 140.6 miles from Breese, IL, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.2 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 62 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.6 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 12m
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 Breese, 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 Breese, IL
This is one driving day of about 281.2 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Breese, 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 225.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stretch
3.4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$20 to $30
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 280.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.1 mi into trip|~11m in|US 50; IL 127 / 12th Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 50; IL 127 / 12th Street
Navigation decision point
7
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 29m 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
258 mi into trip|~4h 41m 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
258.2 mi into trip|~4h 42m 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
280.1 mi into trip|~5h 17m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.96 one way
$87.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$48.27
$96.54
premium
$4.89
$54.11
$108.23
diesel
$5.61
$62.09
$124.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.4
1
$29.53
$13.50
Efficient EV
70.3
0
$24.60
$11.25
EV Truck/SUV
112.5
1
$39.37
$18.00
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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 20, 2026
Origin
Breese, IL
Late night
in Breese on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
9 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
5h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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 271.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. With 0% highway share, you will be navigating local roads for the entire 281.2 miles. Because the longest stretch on Route 50 West is 0 miles, you should prepare for frequent turns and a constantly changing road environment. This path is not about high-speed cruising, but rather a technical, localized experience. You will spend the full 5 hours and 19 minutes navigating smaller roads, so be ready for a drive that feels more hands-on and personal than a typical highway commute.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 50. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near US 50; IL 127 / 12th Street.
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 17 significant decision points across 281.2 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 9.1 miles (US 50; IL 127 / 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 79.4 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
775 ft454 ft
Total Climb
520 ft
Total Descent
370 ft
Highest Point
775 ft
~180.8 mi in
Elevation Range
321 ft
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 Breese, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
Cicero is a town of 81,000 people (2019) in the Chicagoland area, just west of the Chicago city limits. It became famous when gangster Al Capone moved here to escape from the Chicago Police in the early 1920s.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 281.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cicero, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (US 50; IL 127 / 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 79.4 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cicero, IL before the return drive.
