Carlyle, IL to Cicero, IL is 271.1 miles and takes about 5h 7m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Illinois, covering a good chunk of the Midwest. Given it's mostly highway, you can expect a fairly direct drive. With only one recommended stop and a duration under six hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. It's a straightforward connection between two points in the same state.
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
135.5 miles from Carlyle, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
225.2 mi
4h 2m
Franklin Street
14.1 mi
16m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
US 50
7.8 mi
9m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Vollmer Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 225.2 mi, about 4h 2m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~761 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,099
Quietest
2 AM
~115 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlyle, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on US 50
14 mi·16 min·Franklin Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; US 51
0.2 mi·14 sec·N Mine St
3
Continue on US 50; US 51
347 ft·4 sec·North Mine Street
4
Take the exit
134 ft·3 sec
5
Turn right onto US 50
7.8 mi·9 min·US 50
6
Turn left
0.4 mi·54 sec
7
Merge onto I 57
47 mi·50 min·I 57
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
12
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 50
11 mi·17 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider a brief stop around the halfway point if needed, even though only one is officially recommended. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $41 estimated cost suggests you'll need to refuel at least once. Pay attention as you exit I 57 and transition onto Franklin Street and Cicero Avenue; these surface roads will have more local traffic and varying speed limits.
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 135.5 miles from Carlyle, IL, or about 2h 28m 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 60 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.5 miles or 2h 28m 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 1m
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 Carlyle, 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 Carlyle, IL
This is one driving day of about 271.1 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Carlyle, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.1 and 269.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
14.1 mi into trip|~16m in|US 50; US 51 / N Mine St
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; US 51 / N Mine St
Navigation decision point
7
69.3 mi into trip|~1h 17m 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
247.8 mi into trip|~4h 28m 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
248.1 mi into trip|~4h 29m 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
269.9 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.22 one way
$90.44 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$49.34
$98.68
premium
$5.25
$56.07
$112.13
diesel
$6.28
$66.99
$133.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.3
1
$28.47
$13.01
Efficient EV
67.8
0
$23.72
$10.84
EV Truck/SUV
108.4
1
$37.95
$17.35
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Carlyle, IL
Late night
in Carlyle on Friday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Friday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
47°F
Shelby, IN
136 mi in
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
28 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 7m 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
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 261.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on I 57, accounting for 86% of the total mileage. You'll experience a lengthy stretch of 225.2 miles on this highway before transitioning to surface streets. Specifically, you'll be on Franklin Street and then Cicero Avenue as you approach your destination. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate the latter part of the route.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Franklin Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.1 miles in near US 50; US 51 / N Mine St.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 271.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 14.1 miles (US 50; US 51 / N Mine St): Navigation decision point; at 69.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 247.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
757 ft458 ft
Total Climb
422 ft
Total Descent
276 ft
Highest Point
757 ft
~154.9 mi in
Elevation Range
299 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 Carlyle, 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.
Top landmarks
•Hawthorne Works — Factory complex in Cicero, Illinois
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 271.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m 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.
Yes — we found about 34 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.1 miles (US 50; US 51 / N Mine St): Navigation decision point; at 69.3 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 247.8 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 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.
