Cicero, IL to Quincy, IL is 304.7 miles and takes about 5h 46m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-72, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Illinois, moving from the greater Chicago metro area into the western part of the state. It's a straightforward, primarily highway trip that's well-suited for a single day of driving. Given the manageable distance and duration, it's a practical option if you need to get from the Chicago suburbs to western Illinois without extensive planning.
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
152.3 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,743 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,333
Quietest
2 AM
~157 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Quincy, 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 right at fork onto I 72; US 36
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 72; US 36
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·51 sec
Toward I 172 North: Quincy
9
Continue on I 172; IL 110
2.2 mi·2 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
11
Turn left onto IL 57
12 mi·20 min·IL 57
12
Turn left onto IL 57
0.4 mi·43 sec·IL 57
13
Turn right
71 ft·1 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 304.7-mile drive, leaving Cicero in the morning will allow you to arrive in Quincy with plenty of daylight. With a driving time of under six hours, you likely won't need more than one brief stop for gas or a stretch. Plan your fuel stop before leaving the Chicago metro area, as services can become more spread out once you're deeper into western Illinois. The flexibility of this route means you can adjust your pace as needed, perhaps stopping for a quick meal if you find a convenient exit.
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 152.3 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 2h 54m 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 67 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.3 miles or 2h 54m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Quincy, 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 304.7 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 291.9 — 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
6
196 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|I 72; US 36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
5
288.9 mi into trip|~5h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 172 North: Quincy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 172 North: Quincy
5
291.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m in
Take the exit toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.83 one way
$101.65 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$55.24
$110.48
premium
$5.26
$63.09
$126.17
diesel
$6.18
$74.12
$148.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.4
1
$31.99
$14.63
Efficient EV
76.2
0
$26.66
$12.19
EV Truck/SUV
121.9
1
$42.66
$19.50
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Cicero, IL
Afternoon
in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Quincy, IL
Afternoon
in Quincy on Tuesday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
SE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Athens, IL
152 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 46m 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 189.1
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 trip is almost entirely highway driving, with a 98% highway share. You'll encounter a long stretch of 127.8 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, indicating a significant portion of consistent cruising. The route is characterized by frequent exits and merges as you navigate the interstate system. Expect mostly open road once you're clear of the initial urban areas.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 72. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 304.7 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 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 72; US 36): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
766 ft483 ft
Total Climb
628 ft
Total Descent
664 ft
Highest Point
766 ft
~120.4 mi in
Elevation Range
283 ft
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 Quincy, 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.
Top landmarks
•Hawthorne Works — Factory complex in Cicero, Illinois
Quincy is a small city of 40,000 in Adams County, Western Illinois. It is near the westernmost point in Illinois on the Mississippi River, and is home to some of the most impressive historic architecture in the region.
Top landmarks
•Downtown Quincy Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
•South Side German Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
•Quincy East End Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 46m. Total distance: 304.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 46m 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 127.8 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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.
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 29 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 72; US 36): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Quincy, IL before the return drive.
