Origin
Cicero, IL
Late night in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cicero, IL to Central, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central, IL
Jérémy Glineur
Trip Overview
This 51.2-mile drive from Cicero, IL to Central, IL is an easy day trip, taking just over an hour to complete. Primarily utilizing the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, West Jefferson Street, and Whitewillow Road, this route stays within the Midwest region and the state of Illinois. With a projected fuel cost of around $8, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The straightforward nature of this drive makes it ideal for those looking for efficiency rather than extensive sightseeing. You'll experience a highway-focused journey that's perfect for a spontaneous excursion or a planned short hop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 32.1 mi | 41m |
| West Jefferson Street | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Whitewillow Road | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Brisbin Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| South Central Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 31st Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 32.1 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Central, IL.
1
Start on South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Laramie Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 31st Street
3
Turn left onto South Central Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Central Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 55 South
5
Merge onto I 55
32 mi
·
41 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 253
Toward US 52: Shorewood, Joliet
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto US 52
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
8
Continue on US 52
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
9
Continue on US 52
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
West Jefferson Street
10
Turn left onto Brisbin Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Brisbin Road
11
Turn right onto Whitewillow Road
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Whitewillow Road
12
Turn right
103 ft
·
7 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Cicero, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 45.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West 31st Street
Turn right onto West 31st Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Central Avenue
Turn left onto South Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward US 52: Shorewood, Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 253
Toward US 52: Shorewood, Joliet
4
45.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Brisbin Road
Turn left onto Brisbin Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.00 one way
$16.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.79 | $17.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.85 | $19.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Central, IL
Late night in Central on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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 11m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive with 63% of the route on higher-speed roads, making for a generally efficient transit. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be a solid 32.1 miles along the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, allowing for consistent momentum. While primarily a highway experience, you'll transition onto local roads like West Jefferson Street and Whitewillow Road, offering a slight change of pace. This blend means you'll spend most of your time cruising, with brief opportunities to navigate more localized traffic patterns.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.1 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and West Jefferson Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near West 31st Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 11m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (West 31st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Central, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Joliet along the way.
Joliet
35.5 mi in
|
~47m
About the Cities
Starting in Cicero, IL
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Central, IL
Full guide →Central Illinois is a region of Illinois extending south from Chicagoland along the border with Indiana. It includes Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, LaSalle, Livingston, McLean, and Shelby counties.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.1 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (West 31st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Central, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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