If you are planning a direct trip from Cicero to Moro, Illinois, expect a straightforward journey spanning 270.4 miles. This drive typically takes about 5 hours and 8 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip for most drivers. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-55, keeping the travel experience highly efficient. Budget approximately $41 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwest locations. Because the route is compact, you likely won't need an overnight stay, allowing you to complete the transit in a single day with ease.
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
135.2 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Moro, 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
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
9
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
10
Continue on IL 140
6.3 mi·8 min·State Route 140
11
Turn right onto IL 159
1.6 mi·2 min·North State Route 159
12
Turn left onto Moro Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Moro Road
13
Continue on East Moro Drive
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Moro Drive
14
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North Main Street
15
Turn left onto West Bender Street
115 ft·5 sec·West Bender Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Bender Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, aim to leave early in the day to avoid potential congestion on the expressway segments. Since the trip only requires one planned stop, use that break strategically to refuel and stretch your legs around the midway point. Keep in mind that with a $41 fuel budget, it is wise to monitor your efficiency once you exit the interstate for the final stretch on State Route 140. Given the short duration, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your own schedule. Focus on maintaining a steady pace, as the high highway percentage makes this a quick, no-nonsense trek across the state.
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 135.2 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.8 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.2 miles or 2h 35m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moro, 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 270.4 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 127.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 270.3 — 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
5
258.6 mi into trip|~4h 48m in
Take the exit toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
5
270.3 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.27 one way
$84.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.42
$92.83
premium
$4.89
$52.04
$104.07
diesel
$5.61
$59.70
$119.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.1
1
$28.39
$12.98
Efficient EV
67.6
0
$23.66
$10.82
EV Truck/SUV
108.2
1
$37.86
$17.31
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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
3:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Moro, IL
Late night
in Moro on Tuesday
Local time
3:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
135 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
8 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of your time spent on major routes. You will start your journey on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, which serves as your longest uninterrupted stretch at 127.8 miles. As you transition onto I-55 and eventually State Route 140, the road maintains a consistent, high-speed pace. Do not expect much variation in terrain, as the route is designed for utility and speed rather than winding scenery. Staying alert is key, as the sheer volume of highway miles creates a repetitive rhythm behind the wheel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.8 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 Moro, 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.
The longest stretch is about 127.8 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 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.
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 Moro, IL before the return drive.
