Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
47.6 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cicero, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Island Lake, IL
Lorenzo Manera
Cicero, IL to Island Lake, IL is 47.6 miles and takes about 1h 7m via I 290 and North Rand Road, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Illinois, connecting two points without leaving the state. Given its relatively short distance and mostly highway profile, it’s a practical route for a quick commute or a straightforward day trip. Plan for urban and suburban environments for much of the drive, with the latter half transitioning to more local road cruising. It's a simple, direct path that doesn't require extensive planning for a single day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 15.4 mi | 20m |
| North Rand Road | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| IL 53 | 8.9 mi | 11m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East State Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Lake Cook Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Liberty Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Island Lake, IL.
Start on South Laramie Avenue
Turn left onto West Flournoy Street
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Continue on Lake Cook Road
Continue on US 12
Take the exit
Turn left onto IL 176
Continue on IL 176
Turn right onto Greenleaf Avenue
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 44.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto West Flournoy Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward IL 176
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.26 one way
$14.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $8.00 | $16.00 |
| premium | $4.81 | $9.01 | $18.01 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $10.13 | $20.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Evening in Cicero on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Island Lake on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°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 drive is primarily highway, with 66% of the route on interstates. You'll cover a longest stretch of 15.4 miles on I 290 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to encounter dense exits as you navigate the interstate portion, typical of routes near major metropolitan areas. The latter part of the drive will involve cruising on local roads like North Rand Road and IL 53.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and North Rand Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near West Flournoy Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.8 miles (West Flournoy Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cicero, IL to Island Lake, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Milwaukee along the way.
Milwaukee
Founded 1867
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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