Marion, IL to Cicero, IL is 255.6 miles and takes about 5h 25m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a fairly straightforward drive, mostly on interstate highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Given the relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
127.8 miles from Marion, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
152 mi
2h 43m
IL 33
36.3 mi
53m
500E
12.3 mi
16m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 152 mi, about 2h 43m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~865 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 5 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 Marion, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on 2050N
2.9 mi·11 min·2050N
2
At end of road, turn left onto IL 130
12 mi·16 min·500E
3
Continue on IL 130; IL 250
2.5 mi·4 min·South West Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
5
Continue on IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
6
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
36 mi·53 min·IL 33; IL 130
7
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
8
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
9
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
10
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
11
Merge onto I 57
152 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
15
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on IL 50
11 mi·17 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 255.6-mile drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have ample daylight for the 5h 25m journey. With only one recommended stop, you can make good time, but consider stretching your legs or grabbing a quick bite around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is significant, and plan your refueling accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip with a fuel cost around $40, you have flexibility to depart at your convenience.
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 127.8 miles from Marion, IL, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152 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 56 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.8 miles or 2h 55m 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 22m
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 Marion, 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 Marion, IL
This is one driving day of about 255.6 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Marion, 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 57 for about 152 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 2.9 and 254.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~11m in|IL 130 / 500E
At end of road, turn left onto IL 130 / 500E
Navigation decision point
5
80.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
232.3 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Take the exit toward Vollmer Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road
9
232.6 mi into trip|~4h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Vollmer Road West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 342
Toward Vollmer Road West
6
254.5 mi into trip|~5h 23m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.75 one way
$75.49 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.67
$83.34
premium
$4.72
$47.46
$94.91
diesel
$4.80
$48.26
$96.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.84
$12.27
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.22
EV Truck/SUV
102.2
1
$35.78
$16.36
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Marion, IL
Late night
in Marion on Monday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Monday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
WSW 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
85°F
Shelby, IN
128 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
3 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 25m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 246.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 76% of it on high-speed roads. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of driving on I 57 for about 152 miles. While the majority of your journey will be on the interstate, there are sections on IL 33 and 500E that offer a slight change of pace. The drive is designed for covering distance, so anticipate a consistent, steady pace for most of the 5h 25m trip.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and IL 33. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near IL 130 / 500E.
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 255.6 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 2.9 miles (IL 130 / 500E): Navigation decision point; at 80.4 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
776 ft415 ft
Total Climb
455 ft
Total Descent
266 ft
Highest Point
776 ft
~146.1 mi in
Elevation Range
361 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 Marion, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
Marion is a city in Southern Illinois. Named in honor of Francis Marion and settled in 1839, Marion isn't exactly replete with places to see but has forests and recreational areas nearby.
Top landmarks
•Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center — hospital in Marion, Illinois, United States
•Williamson County Jail — former county jail in Marion, Illinois
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 25m. Total distance: 255.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (IL 130 / 500E): Navigation decision point; at 80.4 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.3 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cicero, IL before the return drive.
