Cicero, IL to Moline, IL is 160.5 miles and takes about 3h 10m via the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Illinois, moving from the greater Chicago area into the heart of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on well-maintained highways, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. With a recommended one-day drive, you can expect a relatively quick transit time across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.2 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
96.4 mi
1h 47m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi
41m
Eisenhower Expressway
7.1 mi
9m
IL 92
6.1 mi
15m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.4 mi
5m
IL 5
3.7 mi
4m
South Laramie Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
West Flournoy Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 96.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-88
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~599 veh/hr typical
· worst 901
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 78 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Moline, 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 left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
1.9 mi·2 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 15AToward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
25 mi·30 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalbUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
10
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Continue on IL 5; IL 92
3.7 mi·4 min·IL 5; IL 92
12
Take the exit onto IL 92
6.1 mi·15 min·IL 92
Toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis
13
Turn left onto 19th Street
359 ft·12 sec·19th Street
14
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·5th Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
5th Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3h 10m drive, leaving in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize potential rush hour delays as you depart Cicero. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but consider a brief break around the halfway point, perhaps after the 96.4-mile highway section. The estimated fuel cost is $25, so ensure your tank is full before you set out to avoid unexpected stops. Pay attention to the transition from the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway to surface roads, as this is where traffic patterns will change significantly.
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 80.2 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.4 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 35 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moline, 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 160.5 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 96.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 154.1 — 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.
9
9.6 mi into trip|~14m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora...
8
11.5 mi into trip|~17m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
36.5 mi into trip|~47m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
5
154.1 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|IL 92
Take the exit onto IL 92 toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.88 one way
$49.77 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$27.29
$54.57
premium
$4.93
$31.14
$62.28
diesel
$5.60
$35.38
$70.76
Estimated Tolls: $5.78
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(96.4 mi)$5.78
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
$25
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.2
0
$16.85
$7.70
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
EV Truck/SUV
64.2
0
$22.47
$10.27
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Cicero, IL
Afternoon
in Cicero on Friday
Local time
3:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:11PM CDT until September 1 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:11PM CDT until September 1 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Moline, IL
Afternoon
in Moline on Friday
Local time
3:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
S 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:11PM CDT until September 1 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:11PM CDT until September 1 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 14% of this 160.5-mile drive is on highways, with the longest stretch of highway cruising at 96.4 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. After this significant highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect to notice the change from higher-speed travel to more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.4 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 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 9 significant decision points across 160.5 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 2.5 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
931 ft576 ft
Total Climb
423 ft
Total Descent
452 ft
Highest Point
931 ft
~68.8 mi in
Elevation Range
355 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cicero, IL and Moline, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
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
Moline is one of the Quad Cities in Western Illinois. Moline's downtown serves as one of the civic and recreational hubs of the Quad Cities; many events take place at the 12,000-seat TaxSlayer Center (formerly known as The MARK of the Quad Cities and iWireless Center) and at John Deere Commons.
Top landmarks
•LeClaire Hotel — building in Moline, Illinois, United States
•Moline Downtown Commercial Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 160.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.4 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.78 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Moline, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Moline, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
