Cicero, IL to Morrison, IL is 125.2 miles and takes about 2h 26m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the greater Chicago area into the Midwest's heartland. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a single day of travel. Expect a mix of highway cruising and local road navigation as you approach your destination. Plan for a straightforward trip that keeps you moving efficiently across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.6 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
96.4 mi
1h 47m
Lincoln Road
9 mi
12m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
8m
Eisenhower Expressway
7.1 mi
9m
South Laramie Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
East Lincoln Way
1.3 mi
2m
West Flournoy Street
0.5 mi
<1m
North Cherry Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 96.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Morrison, 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
6.7 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward US 30: Clinton, Rock Falls, Sterling
11
Continue on Lincoln Road
9.0 mi·12 min·Lincoln Road
12
Continue on US 30
1.3 mi·2 min·East Lincoln Way
13
Turn right onto North Cherry Street
135 ft·6 sec·North Cherry Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Cherry Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 26m duration, this trip is easily achievable in a single day, so you have flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the drive and explore Morrison. While the longest stretch on the highway is 96.4 miles, consider a brief stop for fuel or a stretch before you exit the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, as local services might be less frequent. The total fuel cost is estimated at $20, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you leave Cicero.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 1h 15m 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morrison, 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 125.2 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Cicero, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 113.8 — 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
113.8 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Clinton, Rock Falls, Sterling
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30: Clinton, Rock Falls, Sterling
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.57 one way
$39.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.49
$42.98
premium
$4.89
$24.09
$48.19
diesel
$5.61
$27.64
$55.29
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
$20
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.15
$6.01
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
EV Truck/SUV
50.1
0
$17.53
$8.01
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Morrison, IL
Late night
in Morrison on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Aurora, IL
63 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
1 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
2h 26m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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?
This route features a significant portion on highways, with 96.4 miles spent on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. You'll transition from highway driving to more local roads after this long stretch. Expect about a 6% highway share overall, meaning a good part of your drive will be on surface streets, especially as you get closer to Morrison. The frequent exits and turns on the local segments will require your attention.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 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 8 significant decision points across 125.2 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.
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 Morrison, IL, road signs point toward Indiana, 22Nd Street (Cermak Road), Rock Falls and Sterling.
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 2h 26m. Total distance: 125.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Morrison, 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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Morrison, IL before heading back.
