This 164.6-mile drive from Pekin, IL to Cicero, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 3 hours and 10 minutes, making it ideal for a single-day adventure. You'll primarily be on interstates, with a 94% highway share, so expect a focused drive. The estimated fuel cost is around $25, which is quite reasonable for this distance. Both your starting and ending points are in the Midwest region, so you'll be traversing familiar territory. This route is designed for efficiency, getting you to your destination without much fuss.
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
82.3 miles from Pekin, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
123.2 mi
2h 19m
I 74
27 mi
28m
I 474
4.8 mi
5m
Radio City Drive
3.5 mi
5m
South Cicero Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
North 8th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
West 31st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 123.2 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pekin, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on South 8th Street
174 ft·3 sec·South 8th Street
2
Turn straight onto Ann Eliza Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Ann Eliza Street
3
Turn straight
182 ft·3 sec
4
Turn straight onto IL 29
0.4 mi·35 sec·North 5th Street
5
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi·50 sec·North 8th Street
6
Continue on IL 29
3.5 mi·5 min·Radio City Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 474
4.8 mi·5 min·I 474
9
Merge onto I 74
27 mi·28 min·I 74
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 55; US 51
123 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 286Toward IL 50: Cicero AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto IL 50
1.4 mi·2 min·South Cicero Avenue
14
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Laramie Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 10-minute drive, planning a single-day trip is very feasible. You can depart anytime, but an early morning start will help you avoid potential midday traffic, especially as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area. With only one stop suggested and a manageable fuel cost of $25, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling. Keep an eye on your mileage, as the longest stretch without a major interchange is over 123 miles on I-55, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment.
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 82.3 miles from Pekin, IL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.2 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 36 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 34m 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 34m
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 Pekin, 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 Pekin, IL
This is one driving day of about 164.6 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Pekin, 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 123.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.1 and 164 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
37.1 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
5
38.6 mi into trip|~45m in|I 55; US 51
Merge onto I 55; US 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
161.7 mi into trip|~3h 4m 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
163.5 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
164 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|South Laramie Avenue
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.73 one way
$51.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.25
$56.51
premium
$4.89
$31.68
$63.35
diesel
$5.61
$36.34
$72.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.28
$7.90
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.40
$6.58
EV Truck/SUV
65.8
0
$23.04
$10.53
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Pekin, IL
Late night
in Pekin on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cicero, IL
Late night
in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
El Paso, IL
82 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
13 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
3h 10m 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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 158.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this journey, with 94% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-55, I-74, and I-474. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 123.2 miles on I-55, offering a sustained period of highway cruising. This setup means you're likely in for a consistent driving experience, prioritizing speed and directness over varied scenery. The road profile is built for covering ground efficiently, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 37.1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 10m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 37.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
The longest stretch is about 123.2 miles on I 55. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles (I 55; US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cicero, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
