Cicero, IL to Somerset, IL is 339.2 miles and takes about 6h 44m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest region, traveling entirely within Illinois. Expect a highway-focused drive that's best suited for a single day's journey. With a $53 fuel cost and a duration under seven hours, it's a practical trip for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this a straightforward transit rather than a scenic tour.
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
169.6 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
254.2 mi
4h 34m
East Main Street
31.7 mi
47m
Ken Gray Expressway
20 mi
21m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
Cicero Avenue
6.6 mi
10m
Highway 145
5.9 mi
9m
IL 34
2.8 mi
3m
Deneal Road
2.6 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 254.2 mi, about 4h 34m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~897 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,104
Quietest
3 AM
~139 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Somerset, IL.
1
Start on South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
3
Turn right onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on IL 50
6.6 mi·10 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left onto 167th Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·167th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
7
Merge onto I 57
188 mi·3 hr 23 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi·21 min·Ken Gray Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
11
Turn left onto IL 14
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
12
Enter roundabout onto IL 34
377 ft·8 sec·East Main Street
13
Continue on IL 34
32 mi·47 min·East Main Street
14
Turn left onto IL 13; IL 34
0.6 mi·50 sec·IL 13; IL 34
15
Turn right onto US 45; IL 34
1.2 mi·1 min·North Commercial Street
16
Turn left onto IL 34; IL 145
5.9 mi·9 min·Highway 145
17
Turn left onto IL 34
2.8 mi·3 min·IL 34
18
Turn left onto Deneal Road
1.4 mi·5 min·Deneal Road
19
Continue on Deneal Road
0.8 mi·3 min·Deneal Road
20
Continue on Deneal Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Deneal Road
21
Turn sharp right onto Somerset Road
114 ft·5 sec·Somerset Road
22
Arrive at destination
Somerset Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 44m drive time, starting your trip in Cicero, IL, in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive in Somerset, IL, with ample daylight. The longest stretch without a major turn is over 250 miles on I 57, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping the $53 budget in mind. While there's only one recommended stop, you might want to break up the drive a bit more with a brief rest. A good tip is to check your tire pressure before setting off, especially for such a long highway segment.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.6 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.2 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 75 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.6 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Somerset, 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 339.2 miles and 6h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 I 57 for about 254.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 294.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Turn right onto IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
19 mi into trip|~31m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
207.5 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
293.2 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Take the exit toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
5
294.5 mi into trip|~5h 30m in|IL 34 / East Main Street
Enter roundabout onto IL 34 / East Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.09 one way
$100.18 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$55.30
$110.60
premium
$4.72
$62.98
$125.96
diesel
$4.80
$64.05
$128.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.8
1
$35.62
$16.28
Efficient EV
84.8
0
$29.68
$13.57
EV Truck/SUV
135.7
1
$47.49
$21.71
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
3:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Smoke
SSW 0 to 10 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 19 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Somerset, IL
Late night
in Somerset on Sunday
Local time
3:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 0 to 5 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 19 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln 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
6h 44m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 11.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 57. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 254.2 miles on I 57, which makes for a consistent pace. The initial part of the trip involves navigating local roads like East Main Street and Ken Gray Expressway before merging onto the interstate. The character remains primarily high-speed and direct for the bulk of the 6h 44m duration, minimizing complex navigation.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 254.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and East Main Street. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue.
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 339.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.1 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
735 ft410 ft
Total Climb
270 ft
Total Descent
420 ft
Highest Point
735 ft
~121.2 mi in
Elevation Range
325 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 Somerset, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Benton 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 44m. Total distance: 339.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 44m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 254.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 43 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Somerset, 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. There are 43 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Somerset, IL before the return drive.
