Origin
Sherman, IL
Late night in Sherman on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sherman, IL to Cicero, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 30m
Distance
185.5 mi
299 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 18m
★
6 AM
3h 31m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 37m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sherman, IL
Pho Tomass
Trip Overview
This 185.5-mile drive from Sherman, Illinois to Cicero, Illinois is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend around 3 hours and 30 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated at $29. The primary route utilizes I-55 for the majority of the trip, making it a largely uninterrupted drive. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, this route is ideal as a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region for the entirety of this Illinois-based excursion.
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
92.7 miles from Sherman, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 159.7 mi | 2h 58m |
| I 55 Business | 21.4 mi | 23m |
| South Cicero Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Sherman Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Laramie Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 31st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Parkway Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Andrew Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 159.7 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sherman, IL and Cicero, IL.
1
Start on Parkway Drive
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Parkway Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto IL 124
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Andrew Road
3
Turn left onto I 55 Business
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sherman Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
21 mi
·
23 min
·
I 55 Business
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
130 mi
·
2 hr 27 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 286
Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto IL 50
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cicero Avenue
9
Turn left onto West 31st Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
West 31st Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Laramie Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
South Laramie Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-and-a-half-hour drive, leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of the day remaining. Since it's a 1-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best. The longest stretch without a major change in road is 159.7 miles on I-55, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that segment. Given the highway-focused nature, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 150-mile mark is a good practice, especially if you're not familiar with the available services along I-55 in Illinois.
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 92.7 miles from Sherman, IL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 159.7 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 41 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.7 miles or 1h 43m 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 50m
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 Sherman, 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 Sherman, IL
This is one driving day of about 185.5 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Sherman, 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 159.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.7 miles from Sherman, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 159.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 184.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 124 / East Andrew Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 124 / East Andrew Road
Navigation decision point
7
22.9 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
52.3 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
182.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m 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
184.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m in
|
West 31st Street
Turn left onto West 31st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.00 one way
$58.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $31.84 | $63.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.70 | $71.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.96 | $81.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.48 | $8.90 |
| Efficient EV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.23 | $7.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.2 | 0 | $25.97 | $11.87 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Cicero, IL
Late night in Cicero on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
3h 30m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 179.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
With 98% of this trip on highways, you'll be spending most of your time on I-55 and its business loop. This means you can anticipate a consistent driving experience for the bulk of the 185.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 159.7 miles on I-55, offering ample opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While predominantly interstate, the route does incorporate I-55 Business and South Cicero Avenue as you approach your destination, which may introduce slightly more local traffic and varying speed limits as you transition from the high-speed highway.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 159.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 55 Business. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near IL 124 / East Andrew Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 185.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (IL 124 / East Andrew Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Sherman, IL to Cicero, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
Peoria
52.3 mi in
|
~57m
|
via I 55
About the Cities
Arriving in Cicero, IL
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 185.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 159.7 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 0.2 miles (IL 124 / East Andrew Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.3 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Cicero, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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