Cicero, IL to Swansea, IL is 287.1 miles and takes about 5h 26m via I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within the Midwest, traversing Illinois from the Chicago metropolitan area down toward the St. Louis region. It's a straightforward, primarily highway route, making it a solid option if you're looking for a direct path with minimal fuss. With only one recommended stop and a single day of driving, this route is designed for efficiency.
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
143.6 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
142.7 mi
2h 34m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
127.8 mi
2h 24m
North Illinois Street
8.4 mi
13m
Vandalia Street
3 mi
4m
South Central Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 142.7 mi, about 2h 34m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,681 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,233
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
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 Swansea, 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
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward IL 159 South: Collinsville
9
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
10
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
11
Continue on IL 159
8.4 mi·13 min·North Illinois Street
12
Turn right onto IL 161
0.3 mi·32 sec·North Belt West
13
Continue on IL 161
151 ft·9 sec·North Belt West
14
Arrive at destination
IL 161
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 26m estimated drive time, leaving Cicero, IL in the morning should allow you to reach Swansea, IL with ample daylight. Since this is a single-day trip, consider making your one recommended stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel. The $45 fuel cost is an estimate, so keeping an eye on your gauge is always wise, especially during that longest stretch on I 55. Plan for potential traffic delays when leaving the Chicago metropolitan area, as this can add unexpected time to your departure.
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 143.6 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.7 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 63 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.6 miles or 2h 44m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swansea, 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 287.1 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 55 for about 142.7 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 0.6 and 273.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|West 31st Street
Turn right onto West 31st Street
Navigation decision point
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
7
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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
273.9 mi into trip|~5h 5m in
Take the exit toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 15A
Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.89 one way
$95.78 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$52.25
$104.51
premium
$5.25
$59.38
$118.75
diesel
$6.18
$69.84
$139.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.1
1
$30.15
$13.78
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
EV Truck/SUV
114.8
1
$40.19
$18.37
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Night
in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Swansea, IL
Night
in Swansea on Tuesday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
SE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
65°F
Athens, IL
144 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
27 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 26m 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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 188.1
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 drive is mostly highway, with 94% of the 287.1 miles on high-speed roads like I 55. You'll encounter a long stretch of 142.7 miles on I 55, so expect extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads, specifically North Illinois Street, will occur as you approach your destination. Be prepared for a higher density of exits and potential merges as you navigate the interstate system for most of this trip.
94% 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: 142.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near West 31st Street.
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 287.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.6 miles (West 31st Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
894 ft548 ft
Total Climb
555 ft
Total Descent
612 ft
Highest Point
894 ft
~123.1 mi in
Elevation Range
346 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 Swansea, 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 287.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 34 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 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (West 31st Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Swansea, IL before the return drive.
