Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Bradley, WI to Eau Claire, WI
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
2h 54m
Distance
146.8 mi
236 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
18 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bradley, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bradley, WI to Eau Claire, WI is 146.8 miles and takes about 2h 54m via WI 29 and US 53, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Wisconsin, offering a straightforward journey through the Midwest. It’s a convenient route if you're looking for a quick transit between these two points without extensive detours. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
73.4 miles from Bradley, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WI 29 | 89.2 mi | 1h 41m |
| US 51 | 41.9 mi | 48m |
| US 53 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| US 8 | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 191A | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| River Prairie Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| County Road Y | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 89.2 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bradley, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on CTH Y
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road Y
2
Turn left onto US 8
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 8
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 51
42 mi
·
48 min
·
US 51
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit onto 191A
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
191A
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
6
Continue on WI 29
89 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
WI 29
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
8
Merge onto US 53
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 53
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward River Prairie Drive
10
Keep slight right at fork
207 ft
·
6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto River Prairie Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
River Prairie Drive
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on Birch Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Birch Street
13
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Germania Street
14
Continue on East Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Madison Street
15
Turn left onto North Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Farwell Street
16
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 146.8-mile trip, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize your daylight hours, especially since it’s a single-day journey. While the drive is just under 3 hours, plan for a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch is over 89 miles; ensuring you have a full tank before departing Bradley, WI, or before entering that long segment, is a smart move. The fuel cost is estimated at $23, which is quite manageable for this distance.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.4 miles from Bradley, WI, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.2 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.4 miles or 1h 27m 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 20m
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 Bradley, 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 Bradley, WI
This is one driving day of about 146.8 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Bradley, 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 WI 29 for about 89.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.4 miles from Bradley, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before WI 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.2 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 143.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 8
Turn left onto US 8
Navigation decision point
7
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 51
Merge onto US 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
47.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
191A
Take the exit onto 191A toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
7
143.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.95 one way
$45.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.20 | $50.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.25 | $56.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.41 | $64.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
18 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Woodman's Food Market - Tesla Supercharger
Altoona, WI
Tesla
12 DCFC
The Hilton Garden Inn - Tesla Supercharger
Wausau, WI
Tesla
8 DCFC
Shoppes at Oakwood - Tesla Supercharger
Eau Claire, WI
Tesla
6 DCFC
Kocourek Ford
Wausau, WI
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Kwik Trip #1267
Chippewa Falls, WI
KWIK_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Toycen Ford
Chippewa Falls, WI
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Sam's Club 8185 (Eau Claire, WI)
Eau Claire, WI
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Eau Claire Ford
Eau Claire, WI
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 4
FORD_CHARGE: 3
Tesla: 3
Blink Network: 2
EV Connect: 2
ZEFNET: 2
KWIK_CHARGE: 1
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44 | 0 | $15.41 | $7.05 |
| Efficient EV | 36.7 | 0 | $12.85 | $5.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.7 | 0 | $20.55 | $9.40 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Bradley, WI
Morning in Bradley on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Morning in Eau Claire on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
21 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
2h 54m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of it utilizing major roadways like WI 29 and US 53. You’ll experience mostly high-speed travel, making for an efficient journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 89.2 miles on WI 29, meaning you can settle in for a good period of consistent driving. Expect a smooth and direct path, largely free from the complexities of local roads, which contributes to the quick transit time.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.2 mi on WI 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 29 and US 51. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 8.
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 146.8 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: at 0.5 miles (US 8): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Bradley, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Chippewa Falls along the way.
Chippewa Falls
47.3 mi in
|
~56m
|
via 191A
About the Cities
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.
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 2h 54m. Total distance: 146.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.2 miles on WI 29. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 8): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eau Claire, WI 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Eau Claire, WI
More from Bradley, WI
More trips to Eau Claire, WI
Explore more options from Bradley, WI or browse trips ending in Eau Claire, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.