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Trip from Willow Springs, 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

20m

Distance

12.6 mi

20 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 19m ★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m ★

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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village in Illinois, United States of America

Willow Springs, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion through the Midwest, the 12.6-mile trek from Willow Springs to Cicero is a straightforward commute. You can expect to reach your destination in about 20 minutes, making this a perfect single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Navigating this path involves utilizing the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, La Grange Road, and South Cicero Avenue. With a fuel cost estimate of just $2, it is a very budget-friendly run for local travelers. Since both towns reside in Illinois, the journey remains firmly within the same regional landscape. This drive is best suited for those looking for an efficient transit between these two communities rather than a leisurely road trip experience.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 7.2 mi 9m
La Grange Road 1.4 mi 2m
South Cicero Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
South Laramie Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
West 31st Street 0.5 mi <1m
Archer Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Hilton Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Adlai Stevenson Expressway — 7.2 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Hilton Street

63 ft · 4 sec · Hilton Street
2

Turn right onto IL 171

0.4 mi · 57 sec · Archer Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 1 min
Toward US 12 North, US 20 North, US 45 North: La Grange Road
4

Merge onto US 12; US 20; US 45

1.4 mi · 2 min · La Grange Road
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 55

7.2 mi · 9 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 171 / Archer Avenue

Turn right onto IL 171 / Archer Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 55 North: Chicago
5
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
9.7 mi into trip | ~14m 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
11.4 mi into trip | ~18m in | West 31st Street

Turn left onto West 31st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.97 one way

$3.94 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.16 $4.33
premium $4.89 $2.42 $4.85
diesel $5.61 $2.78 $5.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.8 0 $1.32 $0.60
Efficient EV 3.2 0 $1.10 $0.50
EV Truck/SUV 5 0 $1.76 $0.81

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Willow Springs, IL

Morning in Willow Springs on Tuesday

Local time

10:42 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Chance Rain Showers

W 15 mph 30% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:31AM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Cicero, IL

Morning in Cicero on Tuesday

Local time

10:42 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

18 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

20m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip offers a mixed driving profile that balances high-speed transit with local surface streets. You will spend roughly 57 percent of your time on the highway, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 7.2 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The transition from expressway speeds to the more localized flow of La Grange Road and South Cicero Avenue marks a distinct shift in the driving experience. Expect a functional, urban-style commute that moves you quickly between points. Because the total distance is relatively short, the road feels consistent and predictable throughout the entire 20-minute duration.

57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.2 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 171 / Archer Avenue.

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 12.6 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: near the start (IL 171 / Archer Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

630 ft 594 ft

Total Climb

53 ft

Total Descent

70 ft

Highest Point

630 ft

~2.7 mi in

Elevation Range

36 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Willow Springs, IL

Full guide →

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 20m. Total distance: 12.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 7.2 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 (IL 171 / Archer Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): 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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