Origin
Chetek, WI
Night in Chetek on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chetek, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
42 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chetek, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit through Wisconsin, the 42-mile journey from Chetek to Eau Claire is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 49 minutes. This route is ideal for a one-day excursion, as the short duration makes it a simple point-to-point drive. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your itinerary. Because both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your travel. Whether you are heading south for business or leisure, this highway-focused connection provides a reliable path between these two Wisconsin communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 37.7 mi | 41m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| River Prairie Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| County Highway I | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Farwell Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| County Highway SS | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Madison Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 37.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chetek, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on this road
91 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto CTH SS
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
County Highway SS
3
Turn straight onto CTH I
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
2nd Street South
4
Continue on CTH I
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
County Highway I
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
6
Merge onto US 53
38 mi
·
41 min
·
US 53
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward River Prairie Drive
8
Keep slight right at fork
207 ft
·
6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto River Prairie Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
River Prairie Drive
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on Birch Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Birch Street
11
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Germania Street
12
Continue on East Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Madison Street
13
Turn left onto North Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Farwell Street
14
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Chetek, WI, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 39.1 — 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
|
CTH SS / County Highway SS
Turn left onto CTH SS / County Highway SS
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
3
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 53
Merge onto US 53
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
38.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward River Prairie Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward River Prairie Drive
7
39.1 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.57 one way
$13.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.21 | $14.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.08 | $16.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.27 | $18.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.88 | $2.69 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Night in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
S 0 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
68°F
Tilden, WI
21 mi in
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
33 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
49m 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?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 90 percent of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on US 53, which accounts for a 37.7-mile stretch of the journey. The experience is defined by these fast, open highway miles rather than winding backroads, allowing for steady progress. As you approach your destination, the path transitions from the main highway onto Birch Street and River Prairie Drive to guide you into Eau Claire. It is a no-nonsense, functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical or scenic detours.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on US 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and Birch Street. 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 CTH SS / County Highway SS.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 42 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 (CTH SS / County Highway SS): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 42 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on US 53. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (CTH SS / County Highway SS): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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