Rest area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Addison, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
210.7 mi
339 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Addison, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Addison to Eau Claire is 210.7 miles and takes about 4h 13m via I 94, I 90, and State Highway 16, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving you across the Midwest region. It's primarily a highway trip, making it a straightforward and efficient way to get from point A to point B. With a recommended one-day drive, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, keeping your travel plans simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.4 miles from Addison, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 76.1 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 90 | 60.2 mi | 1h 4m |
| State Highway 16 | 22.7 mi | 31m |
| State Highway 33 | 20.5 mi | 29m |
| US 151 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| West Cook Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 51 & State Highway 16 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 76.1 mi, about 1h 21m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,456 veh/hr typical · worst 2,263
Quietest
2 AM
~193 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Addison, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on Yellowstone Trail
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Yellowstone Trail
2
Turn right onto WI 33
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 33
3
Enter roundabout onto WI 33
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 33
4
Continue on WI 33
8.4 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 33
5
Continue on Lake Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
6
Turn left onto WI 33
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Vine Street
7
Continue on WI 33
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Barstow Street
8
Continue on WI 33
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
9
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Washington Street
10
Continue on WI 33
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 33
11
Continue on WI 33
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Park Avenue
12
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
13
Merge onto US 151
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 151
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 118
Toward WI 16, WI 60: Columbus, Portage
15
Keep slight right at fork
238 ft
·
5 sec
16
Turn straight onto WI 16; WI 60
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
James Street
17
Continue on WI 16
23 mi
·
31 min
·
State Highway 16
18
Turn straight onto US 51; WI 16
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
19
Continue on US 51; WI 16
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Wisconsin Street
20
Turn left onto WI 33
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
West Cook Street
21
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
22
Merge onto I 90; I 94
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 90; I 94
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
26
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
27
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
28
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
29
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
30
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
31
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
32
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 13m estimated drive time, starting in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Eau Claire comfortably. The route is efficient enough that you likely won't need to break it into multiple days, offering flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 76.1-mile stretch on I 94, as services might be less frequent. It's wise to plan a fuel and rest stop around the midpoint to stay refreshed for the second half of your drive.
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 105.4 miles from Addison, WI, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.1 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 46 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.4 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eau Claire, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Addison, WI 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 Addison, WI
This is one driving day of about 210.7 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Addison, WI.
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 94 for about 76.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.4 miles from Addison, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0.1 mi from route
Millston Rest Area 53
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Mauston Rest Area 10
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Black River Falls Rest Area 54
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 205.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
WI 33 / State Highway 33
Enter roundabout onto WI 33 / State Highway 33
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
37.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward WI 16, WI 60: Columbus, Portage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 118
Toward WI 16, WI 60: Columbus, Portage
8
129.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
5
205.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
6
205.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.15 one way
$70.29 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $38.35 | $76.70 |
| premium | $5.25 | $43.58 | $87.15 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $52.06 | $104.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.12 | $10.11 |
| Efficient EV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.44 | $8.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.3 | 1 | $29.50 | $13.48 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Origin
Addison, WI
Late night in Addison on Friday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
E 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Friday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
SSE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
42°F
Merrimac, WI
105 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
3 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
4h 13m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 94.5
Caution: Use Caution — Sand Creek Segment
Caution: Use Caution — Summit Moraine Segment
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 93% of it on major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 76.1 miles on I 94, so expect extended periods of high-speed cruising. The transition to State Highway 16 marks the end of the predominantly highway driving, where you'll notice a change in the pace and possibly more frequent exits as you approach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.1 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in near WI 33 / State Highway 33.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 210.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles (WI 33 / State Highway 33): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,060 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
392 ft
Total Descent
471 ft
Highest Point
1,060 ft
~165.6 mi in
Elevation Range
271 ft
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.
Between Addison, WI and Eau Claire, WI, road signs point toward Portage and Saint Paul.
Portage
37.4 mi in
|
~51m
Saint Paul
129.2 mi in
|
~2h 42m
|
via I 94
About the Cities
Starting in Addison, WI
Full guide →Arriving in Eau Claire, WI
Full guide →Eau Claire (pronounced: O'Clare, French for clear water) is a city of about 62,000 in Northwest Wisconsin.
Top landmarks
- • Sacred Heart Church — church building in Wisconsin, United States of America
- • Martin Van Buren Barron House — historic house in Wisconsin, United States
- • Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House — United States historic place
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 4h 13m. Total distance: 210.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Eau Claire, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles (WI 33 / State Highway 33): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Eau Claire, WI, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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