La Salle, IL to Cicero, IL is 90.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 48 minutes via I-80, I-39, and I-55, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip connecting two points within Illinois, primarily traversing the Midwest region. Expect a highway-focused drive that is efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a short duration and reasonable fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick transit or as part of a larger Midwestern journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.1 miles from La Salle, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
47.3 mi
50m
I 55
36.1 mi
45m
I 39
1.5 mi
1m
South Cicero Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
US 6
1.3 mi
1m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Tonti Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 47.3 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Salle, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on Tonti Street
171 ft·12 sec·Tonti Street
2
Turn left onto US 6
1.3 mi·1 min·US 6
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
4
Merge onto I 39; US 51
1.5 mi·1 min·I 39; US 51
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·57 sec
Exit 59AToward I 80 East: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 80
47 mi·50 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 126BToward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 55
36 mi·45 min·I 55
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 286Toward IL 50: Cicero AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto IL 50
1.4 mi·2 min·South Cicero Avenue
11
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Leaving La Salle in the morning or early afternoon is recommended to avoid the heaviest traffic, especially as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area. With no planned stops and a fuel cost estimated at $14, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling or extensive breaks. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you near Cicero, as congestion can increase on I-55.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.1 miles from La Salle, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.3 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 20 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.1 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
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 La Salle, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Salle, IL
This is one driving day of about 90.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from La Salle, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 47.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 89.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
5
3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 59A
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
7
50.9 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 126B
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 286
Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
6
89.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.12 one way
$28.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.50
$31.00
premium
$4.89
$17.38
$34.75
diesel
$5.61
$19.94
$39.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.90
$3.61
EV Truck/SUV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
La Salle, IL
Afternoon
in La Salle on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Sunny
WNW 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:20PM CDT until April 25 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 1:48PM CDT until April 20 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Cicero, IL
Afternoon
in Cicero on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Sunny
W 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:20PM CDT until April 25 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 1:48PM CDT until April 20 at 8:00AM 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
2 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
1h 48m on the road
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.
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 87.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with a 95% highway share, making it a fast-paced experience. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates like I-80, I-39, and I-55. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.3 miles on I-80, offering a solid period of consistent driving. The profile is consistently highway-focused, meaning you should anticipate a predictable and efficient journey without significant deviations or slower local road segments.
95% 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: 47.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 55. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
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 90.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 90.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
