This 136.9-mile drive from Fulton, IL to Cicero, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of main roads including the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Lincoln Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest. The profile suggests a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. This trip is well-suited for a day excursion, allowing plenty of time for your destination activities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.4 miles from Fulton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
97 mi
1h 48m
Lincoln Road
16.8 mi
23m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
7.2 mi
7m
Eisenhower Expressway
7 mi
9m
14th Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
South Laramie Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
East Lincoln Way
1.3 mi
2m
West Lincolnway
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 97 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fulton, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on 9th Street
20 ft·6 sec·9th Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·10th Avenue
3
Turn right onto IL 84
0.3 mi·31 sec·Waller Road
4
Turn left onto IL 136
1.9 mi·2 min·14th Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 30
7.8 mi·10 min·Lincoln Road
6
Continue on US 30; IL 78
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Lincoln Way
7
Continue on US 30; IL 78
0.7 mi·1 min·West Lincolnway
8
Continue on US 30
1.3 mi·2 min·East Lincoln Way
9
Continue on US 30
9.0 mi·12 min·Lincoln Road
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·17 sec·this road
11
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·20 sec·this road
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 88 East: Dixon
13
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
7.2 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 88; IL 110
91 mi·1 hr 40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
6.0 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
7.0 mi·9 min·Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 23BToward Central AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
0.3 mi·44 sec·South Central Avenue
19
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road
0.5 mi·57 sec·West Roosevelt Road
20
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·South Laramie Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 46-minute duration, departing in the morning will allow ample time at your destination in Cicero, IL. The estimated fuel cost of $21 for the 136.9-mile trip is quite manageable, so budget accordingly. While the longest stretch is 97 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, keep an eye on your navigation system for the numerous turns indicated in the route's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. Planning for one stop should be sufficient for this relatively short journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.4 miles from Fulton, IL, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97 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 30 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.4 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cicero, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fulton, 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 Fulton, IL
This is one driving day of about 136.9 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Fulton, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 97 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 134.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|10th Avenue
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
22.4 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 88 East: Dixon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 88 East: Dixon
6
121.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
127.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
134.4 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23B
Toward Central Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.40 one way
$42.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.50
$47.00
premium
$4.89
$26.35
$52.69
diesel
$5.61
$30.23
$60.45
Estimated Tolls: $5.82
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(97 mi)$5.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.1
0
$14.37
$6.57
Efficient EV
34.2
0
$11.98
$5.48
EV Truck/SUV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Fulton, IL
Late night
in Fulton on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 46m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 136.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is predominantly local, characterized by a 'turn-heavy' profile, making up 95% of the journey. While there's a significant 97-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the overall experience will involve more frequent navigation and changes in road type compared to a pure interstate cruise. This blend means you'll transition between faster highway segments and more intricate local roads, requiring your attention throughout the 2-hour and 46-minute travel time.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 136.9 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 121.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 136.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.82 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 5 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cicero, 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 121.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cicero, IL before heading back.
