This 284.3-mile drive from Cicero, IL, to Washington Park, IL, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey designed for a single day. With an estimated duration of 5 hours and 19 minutes, it's a manageable trip, though you'll want to factor in a brief stop. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $44. Primarily utilizing I-55 and the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, this trip stays within the Midwest region of Illinois. It's a practical option for a quick transit between these two Illinois locations, requiring no overnight stays.
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
142.2 miles from Cicero, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
150.7 mi
2h 43m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
127.8 mi
2h 24m
South Central Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Kingshighway
1.7 mi
3m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
1m
IL 111
0.4 mi
<1m
Collinsville Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 150.7 mi, about 2h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cicero, IL and Washington Park, 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
86 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward IL 111: Wood River, Washington Park, Great River Road NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto IL 111
0.4 mi·38 sec·IL 111
10
Turn left onto IL 111
0.2 mi·18 sec·Collinsville Road
11
Turn right onto IL 111
1.7 mi·3 min·Kingshighway
12
Turn left onto North Park Drive
62 ft·2 sec·North Park Drive
13
Arrive at destination
North Park Drive
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 19-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and potentially avoid some traffic. With a total distance of 284.3 miles, you'll want to plan for at least one rest stop, especially during the longest stretch of 150.7 miles on I-55. The estimated fuel cost is $44, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Cicero. Given the highway-heavy nature, keep an eye on traffic updates for I-55, as this is a common corridor for congestion.
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 142.2 miles from Cicero, IL, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.7 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 142.2 miles or 2h 43m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington Park, 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 284.3 miles and 5h 19m.
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 150.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 281.9 — 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
8
281.9 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Take the exit toward IL 111: Wood River, Washington Park, Great River Road North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward IL 111: Wood River, Washington Park, Gre...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.45 one way
$88.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$48.80
$97.60
premium
$4.89
$54.71
$109.42
diesel
$5.61
$62.77
$125.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.85
$13.65
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.88
$11.37
EV Truck/SUV
113.7
1
$39.80
$18.20
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Washington Park, IL
Late night
in Washington Park on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
142 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
26 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
5h 19m 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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 196.1
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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 98% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-55 and South Central Avenue. The character is largely that of a highway-focused commute, meaning you'll encounter consistent speeds and limited distractions. You'll experience a substantial longest stretch of 150.7 miles on I-55, allowing for uninterrupted travel. While not particularly varied, this consistent highway profile ensures a predictable and efficient journey from start to finish.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 150.7 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 9 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 284.3 miles you will encounter 9 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.
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 Washington Park, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Springfield
131.2 mi in|~2h 31m|via I 55
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 284.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m 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 150.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Washington Park, IL before the return drive.
