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Trip from Sycamore, IL to Cicero, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 22m

Distance

63.7 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 16m ★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Illinois, United States

Sycamore, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 63.7 miles across the Illinois Midwest, this trip connects Sycamore to Cicero in approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes. It is a straightforward journey perfect for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend about $9 on fuel for the entire distance. Since this route avoids major interstates entirely, it offers a more localized travel experience than a typical highway sprint. Whether you are heading into the city for business or visiting friends, this drive provides a practical, direct path through the region.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 46.5 mi 54m
Eisenhower Expressway 7 mi 9m
South Peace Road 4.4 mi 6m
North Peace Road 1.7 mi 3m
South Laramie Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
DeKalb Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
West Roosevelt Road 0.5 mi <1m
South Central Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway — 46.5 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sycamore, IL and Cicero, IL.

1

Start on IL 64

24 ft · 8 sec · West State Street
2

Turn left onto Somonauk Street

416 ft · 10 sec · Somonauk Street
3

Turn right onto West Elm Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · West Elm Street
4

Continue on DeKalb Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · DeKalb Avenue
5

Turn left onto South Peace Road

4.4 mi · 6 min · South Peace Road
6

Continue on North Peace Road

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Peace Road
7

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 88 Toll East: Chicago
8

Merge onto I 88; IL 110

40 mi · 46 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110

6.0 mi · 7 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 290; IL 110

7.0 mi · 9 min · Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 23B Toward Central Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn right onto South Central Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · South Central Avenue
13

Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road

0.5 mi · 57 sec · West Roosevelt Road
14

Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Laramie Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

South Laramie Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Warrenville, IL

32 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

Hinckley, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Aurora, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.9 miles from Sycamore, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61.2 — 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 | Somonauk Street

Turn left onto Somonauk Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Elm Street

Turn right onto West Elm Street

Navigation decision point

5
7.8 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
48.2 mi into trip | ~1h in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
61.2 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward Central Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 23B Toward Central Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.96 one way

$19.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.93 $21.87
premium $4.89 $12.26 $24.52
diesel $5.61 $14.06 $28.13

Estimated Tolls: $2.79

Reagan Memorial Tollway (46.5 mi) $2.79

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$3

Total

$13

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.1 0 $6.69 $3.06
Efficient EV 15.9 0 $5.57 $2.55
EV Truck/SUV 25.5 0 $8.92 $4.08

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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

Sycamore, IL

Late night in Sycamore on Tuesday

Local time

3:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cicero, IL

Late night in Cicero on Tuesday

Local time

3:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 22m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because the route relies on roads like Somonauk Street, West Elm Street, and DeKalb Avenue, you will navigate through local infrastructure rather than high-speed lanes. With a 0% highway share, this trip lacks the monotony of interstate cruising and instead keeps you engaged with constant maneuvering. There are no extended, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you should prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience from start to finish.

Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.5 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Somonauk Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 63.7 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 (Somonauk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

915 ft 602 ft

Total Climb

204 ft

Total Descent

476 ft

Highest Point

915 ft

~5.3 mi in

Elevation Range

313 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Sycamore, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1835

Sycamore is a city in the Kishwaukee Valley, located in Northern Illinois with a population of about 17,188.

Top landmarks

  • DeKalb County Courthouse — local government building in the United States
  • Sycamore Historic District — historic district in Sycamore, Illinois
  • Chicago and Northwestern Depot — railway station in Sycamore, the United States of America

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 1h 22m. Total distance: 63.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.5 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.79 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Somonauk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cicero, IL before heading back.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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