How far is McHenry, IL from Cicero, IL?

The driving distance from McHenry, IL to Cicero, IL is about 54 miles (86.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.8 miles (68.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
54 mi
01h 17m
Flight
42.74 mi
68.79 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from McHenry.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.74 mi
Kilometers
68.79 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
54 mi
Kilometers
86.91 km
Drive Time
01h 17m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cicero
Wed, Apr 22, 10:11 PM CDT
Return by in McHenry
Wed, Apr 22, 11:28 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McHenry
2026-04-22T20:53
Arrive Cicero
Wed, Apr 22, 10:11 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in McHenry
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rolling Meadows
IL

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From McHenry
27.7 mi
00h 38m
To Cicero
26.3 mi
00h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between McHenry and Cicero.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McHenry and Cicero.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    22 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    33 m · 10 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Green Street

    1.4 km · 3 min · North Green Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Elm Street

    2.6 mi · 5 min · West Elm Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Rand Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Rand Road

  6. 6

    Continue on West Belvidere Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · West Belvidere Road

  7. 7

    Turn right

    615 ft · 8 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    575 ft · 7 sec

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    14.3 mi · 21 min

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right toward IL 53 South

    1668 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    4.4 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road

    7 mi · 9 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago

    17.5 mi · 23 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Avenue

    1248 ft · 34 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Central Avenue

    1837 ft · 44 sec · South Central Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road

    2665 ft · 57 sec · West Roosevelt Road

  19. 19

    Turn right onto South Laramie Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South Laramie Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Laramie Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between McHenry and Cicero.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 290 East
24.5 mi · 45%
West Belvidere Road
19.1 mi · 35%
IL 53 South
4.67 mi · 9%
West Elm Street
2.62 mi · 5%
South Laramie Avenue
1.39 mi · 3%
Rand Road
1.1 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 290 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago

17.5 mi · 00h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 17m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.2 mi
42.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rolling Meadows
00h 38m from McHenry
Leave By
3:56 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving McHenry and Mostly Sunny near Cicero.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from McHenry to Cicero?

The road trip is about 54 miles (86.9 km) and usually takes 01h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rolling Meadows is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.7 miles from McHenry and 26.3 miles from Cicero.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 42.8 miles (68.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:56 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.16 one way or $14.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around McHenry and Mostly Sunny near Cicero.

Stop Ideas Near Rolling Meadows

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Rolling Meadows, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rolling Meadows.

RAIL

Glenview station

17 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

32 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Naperville

36 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Summit

36 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between McHenry and Cicero. Straight-line distance: 42.74 mi (68.79 km).

McHenry

#1 McHenry

City in Illinois

Population27,100
Coordinates42.3333500, -88.2667500
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Cicero

#2 Cicero

Town in Illinois

Population79,727
Coordinates41.8455900, -87.7539400
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Start: (-88.266827, 42.33335)
End: South Laramie Avenue (-87.753926, 41.84559)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 87 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.9 gal
7.21 L · about $7.16
Round trip
$14.33
3.8 gal · 14.42 L
Estimated CO2
16.9 kg one way
Round trip: 33.8 kg / 75 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.16 $14.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.08 $16.16
Premium $4.65 $8.84 $17.69
Diesel $5.30 $10.08 $20.16

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between McHenry and Cicero. The current time is 20:53:55.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.