Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
40.4 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carpentersville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 40.4 miles, this direct route from Carpentersville to Cicero is a straightforward Midwest trip that typically takes about 57 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable duration, you can easily handle this as a one-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Higgins Road, and I-290. Whether you are heading into the city for business or personal errands, this drive offers a practical connection between these two Illinois locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 23.2 mi | 30m |
| Higgins Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| North Kennedy Drive | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Roosevelt Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Barrington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Central Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Carpentersville, IL and Cicero, IL.
Start on IL 25
Turn left onto IL 72
Turn sharp left onto South Barrington Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 290; IL 53
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
Take the exit
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Carpentersville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.2 and 37.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp left onto South Barrington Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290 toward I 290 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.32 one way
$12.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.77 | $15.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.32
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Carpentersville on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip features a mixed driving profile, transitioning between high-speed tollways and slower local roads. With roughly 57% of your travel occurring on highways, you will encounter a variety of traffic patterns throughout the 40.4-mile journey. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 23.2 miles on I-290, which serves as the primary artery for the middle portion of your trip. As you move away from the suburban landscape of Carpentersville and head toward Cicero, the road environment shifts from open highway lanes to the more dense infrastructure typical of the region. Stay alert as the road dynamics change, moving from the open flow of the tollway into the tighter, more complex traffic flow near your destination.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.2 miles in near South Barrington Road.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 40.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.2 miles (South Barrington Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
91 ft
Total Descent
376 ft
Highest Point
890 ft
Elevation Range
287 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Carpentersville, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Suburbs along the way.
Suburbs
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 40.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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