Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
32.7 mi
53 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
St. Charles, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Cicero, IL to St. Charles, IL is 32.7 miles and takes about 56 minutes via North Avenue, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, and offers a straightforward local journey. It's a short hop, perfect for a quick trip or an addition to a longer itinerary. You'll be navigating primarily local roads with some highway time, making it a familiar drive for many. Consider this a practical, no-frills route connecting two points in the greater Chicago area.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Avenue | 14.9 mi | 26m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| East Main Street | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| East Saint Charles Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| I 290 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Kingery Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West Flournoy Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and St. Charles, IL.
Start on South Laramie Avenue
Turn left onto West Flournoy Street
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto East Saint Charles Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto IL 83
Turn left onto IL 64
Continue on IL 64
Continue on IL 64
Turn left onto IL 25
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 32.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Cicero, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290 toward I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Saint Charles Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward West Saint Charles Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto IL 64 / North Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.11 one way
$10.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.61 | $11.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.29 | $12.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.22 | $14.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in St. Charles on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than cruising on long, straight stretches. With only a 26% highway share, expect a more ground-level experience. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 14.9 miles on North Avenue. This suggests a drive that will feel more like navigating through towns and suburbs, with traffic lights and intersections being a common feature. The Eisenhower Expressway will offer a brief period of faster travel before transitioning back to local streets.
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.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 32.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
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 290): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cicero, IL to St. Charles, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Milwaukee along the way.
Milwaukee
Founded 1834
St. Charles is a city in the Fox River Valley.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 32.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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