Traveling from Metropolis to Cicero covers 358.6 miles across Illinois, bridging the southern tip of the state with the Chicago suburbs. You can expect a total drive time of approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes, making this a manageable but long day trip for most drivers. With a fuel budget of about $54, this journey is straightforward and efficient for those looking to traverse the Midwest. While an overnight stay isn't strictly necessary, splitting the drive into two days could provide a more relaxed pace. Since the entire route stays within Illinois, you will remain in the Midwest region throughout the trip.
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
179.3 miles from Metropolis, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
178.5 mi
3h 11m
Ken Gray Expressway
119.1 mi
2h 8m
I 24
25.4 mi
27m
Cicero Avenue
10.8 mi
17m
South Cicero Avenue
10.6 mi
17m
North Avenue
6.3 mi
9m
New Columbia Road
4.3 mi
5m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 178.5 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metropolis, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on West 5th Street
45 ft·8 sec·West 5th Street
2
Turn left onto US 45
0.4 mi·1 min·Ferry Street
3
Turn left onto US 45
0.2 mi·29 sec·West 10th Street
4
Turn right onto Pearl Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Pearl Street
5
Turn slight left onto North Avenue
6.3 mi·9 min·North Avenue
6
Continue on New Columbia Road
4.3 mi·5 min·New Columbia Road
7
Turn right onto Big Bay Road
0.4 mi·41 sec·Big Bay Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward New Columbia, Big Bay
9
Merge onto I 24
25 mi·27 min·I 24
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 44BToward I 57 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 57
52 mi·55 min·Ken Gray Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
179 mi·3 hr 11 min·I 57
Toward I 57 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
522 ft·17 sec
Exit 342Toward Vollmer Road WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto CH B66
0.4 mi·39 sec·Vollmer Road
17
Turn left onto IL 50
11 mi·17 min·Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on IL 50
11 mi·17 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 45-minute duration, try to depart early in the morning to avoid heavy traffic as you near the Cicero area. You only need one dedicated stop to keep your energy up during the 358.6-mile trek, so plan this break strategically around your halfway point to break up the monotony. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long 178.5-mile stretch on I-57, to ensure you don't run low between stations. Since this is a highway-heavy route, having your toll passes ready is a smart move for smooth sailing through the northern sections. Flexibility is your friend here, so adjust your pace based on the flow of interstate traffic to ensure a stress-free arrival.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 179.3 miles from Metropolis, IL, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.5 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 79 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.3 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 27m
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 Metropolis, 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 Metropolis, IL
This is one driving day of about 358.6 miles and 6h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Metropolis, 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 178.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.4 and 357.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
37.4 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 44B
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
156.8 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
335.4 mi into trip|~6h 7m 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
335.6 mi into trip|~6h 7m 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
357.5 mi into trip|~6h 43m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.06 one way
$112.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$61.55
$123.11
premium
$4.89
$69.01
$138.02
diesel
$5.61
$79.17
$158.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.6
1
$37.65
$17.21
Efficient EV
89.7
1
$31.38
$14.34
EV Truck/SUV
143.4
1
$50.20
$22.95
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Metropolis, IL
Evening
in Metropolis on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 6 to 9 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cicero, IL
Evening
in Cicero on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Sidney, IL
179 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
28 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
6h 45m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 346.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the route consisting of interstate travel. You will rely primarily on I-57, I-24, and the Ken Gray Expressway to navigate north. Prepare for a consistent interstate experience, highlighted by a significant 178.5-mile stretch along I-57 that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your journey. Because the majority of the drive is spent on major thoroughfares, the road personality is functional and fast-paced rather than winding or scenic. You should anticipate a steady, predictable rhythm as you transition from the southern reaches of Illinois toward the northern metropolitan area.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 358.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 156.8 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 335.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Metropolis, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Vollmer Road West along the way.
Vollmer Road West
335.6 mi in|~6h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 358.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 45m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 178.5 miles on I 57. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 156.8 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 335.4 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 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 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.
