Traveling from Moro to Cicero covers 271.2 miles across the Illinois landscape, typically taking about 5 hours and 9 minutes of drive time. Because this route is entirely within the Midwest, you will stay in the same region throughout your journey. With a manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion for those looking to reach their destination without an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $41 for fuel to complete the trip. Since the drive relies heavily on major infrastructure, it is a straightforward trek that avoids complex navigation, making it a practical choice for a direct commute or visit.
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
135.6 miles from Moro, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
256.4 mi
4h 43m
State Route 140
6.4 mi
8m
Moro Road
2.6 mi
6m
North State Route 159
1.6 mi
2m
South Cicero Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
West State Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 256.4 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,689 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,115
Quietest
2 AM
~152 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Moro, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on West Bender Street
115 ft·7 sec·West Bender Street
2
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto East Moro Drive
0.1 mi·18 sec·East Moro Drive
4
Continue on Moro Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Moro Road
5
Turn right onto IL 159
1.6 mi·2 min·North State Route 159
6
Turn left onto IL 140
6.3 mi·8 min·State Route 140
7
Continue on IL 140
0.8 mi·1 min·West State Street
8
Continue on IL 140
443 ft·13 sec·State Route 140
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
10
Merge onto I 55
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 55
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
130 mi·2 hr 27 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 286Toward IL 50: Cicero AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto IL 50
1.4 mi·2 min·South Cicero Avenue
15
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 271.2-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the long stretch on I-55. Since the route is efficient, you have the flexibility to depart early in the morning to beat potential traffic or choose a mid-day start if you prefer a more relaxed schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that primary 256.4-mile highway segment to ensure you aren't caught off guard by prices or availability. Given the high highway percentage, staying alert and maintaining a consistent speed will help you manage the drive comfortably within the estimated 5-hour window. Utilize your single planned stop strategically to break up the monotony of the interstate travel.
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 135.6 miles from Moro, IL, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 256.4 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 60 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.6 miles or 2h 33m 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 11m
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 Moro, 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 Moro, IL
This is one driving day of about 271.2 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Moro, 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 256.4 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 270.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
138 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
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 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
268.3 mi into trip|~5h 3m 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
270.1 mi into trip|~5h 7m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.05 one way
$80.10 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.21
$88.43
premium
$4.72
$50.35
$100.71
diesel
$4.80
$51.21
$102.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.4
1
$28.48
$13.02
Efficient EV
67.8
0
$23.73
$10.85
EV Truck/SUV
108.5
1
$37.97
$17.36
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Moro, IL
Late night
in Moro on Monday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Monday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
85°F
Bloomington, IL
136 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 9m 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 74.8
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 271.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 97% of your travel time will be spent on highways. The route begins with brief navigation on Moro Road and State Route 140 before settling into the long, consistent rhythm of I-55. You will spend the vast majority of your time on this interstate, which accounts for a massive 256.4-mile stretch of the journey. This is a highway-focused drive, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads or technical terrain. Behind the wheel, you can anticipate a steady, predictable pace as you transition from the smaller roads near Moro onto the primary artery leading toward Cicero.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 256.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and State Route 140. 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 North Main 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 271.2 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 (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 108.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
774 ft533 ft
Total Climb
532 ft
Total Descent
460 ft
Highest Point
774 ft
~155 mi in
Elevation Range
241 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 Moro, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
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 9m. Total distance: 271.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 256.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 108.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138 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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 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.
