This 273.9-mile drive from Cicero, IL to Glen Carbon, IL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey through the Midwest. Expect to spend about 5 hours and 8 minutes on the road, making it a very manageable day trip. The route is almost entirely on interstates, with 98% highway driving, so you can cover ground efficiently. With an estimated fuel cost of $43, it's an economical choice for a single-day excursion. This trip is all about covering distance with minimal fuss, perfect for when your destination is the priority.
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
136.9 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
137.7 mi
2h 28m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
127.8 mi
2h 24m
I 270
2.2 mi
2m
South Central Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Glen Crossing Road
1.1 mi
2m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 137.7 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Glen Carbon, 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
128 mi·2 hr 24 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
73 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 20BToward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 270
2.2 mi·2 min·I 270
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 12Toward IL 159: Collinsville, Edwardsville
11
Keep slight left at fork
138 ft·6 sec
12
Turn left onto IL 159
0.4 mi·42 sec·South State Route 159
13
Turn right onto Glen Crossing Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Glen Crossing Road
14
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour, 8-minute duration, departing from Cicero, IL in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Glen Carbon, IL with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point or after the longest 137.7-mile stretch on I-55, to stretch your legs and refuel. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so keep an eye on your gauge, especially before heading out. Since this is a 1-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time slightly based on traffic or your preference.
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 136.9 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.7 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 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.9 miles or 2h 37m 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 Glen Carbon, 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.
+
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 Cicero, IL
This is one driving day of about 273.9 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Cicero, 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 55 for about 137.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 271.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
5
196 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7
268.9 mi into trip|~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20B
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
6
271.5 mi into trip|~5h 2m in
Take the exit toward IL 159: Collinsville, Edwardsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 12
Toward IL 159: Collinsville, Edwardsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.82 one way
$85.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$47.02
$94.03
premium
$4.89
$52.71
$105.42
diesel
$5.61
$60.47
$120.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.2
1
$28.76
$13.15
Efficient EV
68.5
0
$23.97
$10.96
EV Truck/SUV
109.6
1
$38.35
$17.53
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glen Carbon, IL
Late night
in Glen Carbon on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
137 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
6 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 8m 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.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 188.9
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?
You'll be spending the vast majority of your time on the interstate, with 98% of this 273.9-mile trip on highways like I-55 and I-270. The Adlai Stevenson Expressway will get you started before merging onto I-55 for the longest stretch of the journey, a solid 137.7 miles. This highway-focused profile means you'll experience consistent speeds and predictable travel conditions for most of the drive. It's a route designed for efficient transit rather than leisurely sightseeing.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
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 13 significant decision points across 273.9 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 3.4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Glen Carbon, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield 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 8m. Total distance: 273.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 Glen Carbon, 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and 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 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Glen Carbon, IL before the return drive.
