Cicero, IL to Belvidere, IL is 71.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 31 minutes via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you head north. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick trip or an extension of a longer journey in the area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
41.3 mi
44m
I 290
14.5 mi
19m
Eisenhower Expressway
7.1 mi
9m
South Laramie Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
North Meacham Road
1.4 mi
2m
East Higgins Road
0.8 mi
1m
Belvidere Road
0.8 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 41.3 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Belvidere, IL.
1
Start on South Laramie Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·South Laramie Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Turn left onto West Flournoy Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·West Flournoy Street
3
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·25 sec·this road
Toward I 290 WestUse the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
7.1 mi·9 min·Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
15 mi·19 min·I 290
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford, MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 1BToward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf RoadUse the right lane.
7
Turn left onto IL 72
0.8 mi·1 min·East Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto North Meacham Road
1.4 mi·2 min·North Meacham Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: RockfordUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
41 mi·44 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 25Toward Belvidere
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Belvidere
13
Keep slight right at fork
287 ft·7 sec
14
Turn straight onto CR T40
0.3 mi·38 sec·Genoa Road
15
Continue on US 20 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Belvidere Road
16
Turn left onto Logan Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Logan Avenue
17
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
18
Turn right onto East Perry Street
59 ft·2 sec·East Perry Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Perry Street
Trip Plan
Given this drive is just over an hour, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the worst of Chicago's rush hour traffic. You won't need many stops, but there are plenty of services along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway if you need to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your GPS as you transition from the tollway to surface streets approaching Belvidere, as the exits can be numerous.
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 35.9 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.3 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belvidere, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cicero, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cicero, IL
This is one driving day of about 71.9 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Cicero, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 41.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 26.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
9.6 mi into trip|~14m in|I 290
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290 toward I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford,...
8
24.1 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Ro...
5
25.3 mi into trip|~35m in|North Meacham Road
Turn right onto North Meacham Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.8 mi into trip|~38m in
Turn left toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.67 one way
$21.35 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$12.04
$24.08
premium
$4.65
$13.17
$26.35
diesel
$5.30
$15.01
$30.03
Estimated Tolls: $2.89
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(41.3 mi)$2.89
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.55
$3.45
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.29
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Cicero, IL
Afternoon
in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
3:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
ENE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Belvidere, IL
Afternoon
in Belvidere on Sunday
Local time
3:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
ENE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
1h 31m on the road
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 30% of this 71.9-mile route is on highways like I-290 and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 41.3 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. After the highway segments, you'll transition to more surface roads, which will likely feel more urban initially before becoming more open as you approach Belvidere.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.3 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 2.5 miles in near I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 2.5 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (I 290): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Cicero, IL to Belvidere, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Milwaukee 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 1h 31m. Total distance: 71.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.3 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.89 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 8 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 Belvidere, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (I 290): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Belvidere, IL before heading back.
