Origin
Chippewa Falls, WI
Night in Chippewa Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chippewa Falls, 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
21m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chippewa Falls, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Chippewa Falls to Eau Claire, this quick 12.1-mile journey is a straightforward commute that takes about 19 minutes to complete. You will navigate primarily via South Bridge Street, Highway 124, and US 53 as you travel through the heart of the Midwest. Given the short distance, this is easily managed as a simple day trip without any need for an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is a highly economical route for those moving between these two Wisconsin cities. Because there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to make the drive whenever it suits your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 Business | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 124 | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| WI 124 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Birch Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Bridge Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Farwell Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Madison Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Germania Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 53 Business
— 5.6 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chippewa Falls, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on North Bridge Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Bridge Street
2
Enter roundabout onto South Bridge Street
95 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Bridge Street
3
Continue on South Bridge Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Bridge Street
4
Continue on WI 124; WI 29 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 124
5
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 124
96 ft
·
3 sec
·
State Highway 124
6
Continue on State Highway 124
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 124
7
Continue on WI 124
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
WI 124
8
Continue on US 53 Business
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 53 Business
9
Continue on US 53 BUS
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53 Business
10
Continue on US 53 Business
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 53 Business
11
Turn right onto Birch Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Birch Street
12
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Germania Street
13
Continue on East Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Madison Street
14
Turn left onto North Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Farwell Street
15
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 12 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Bridge Street
Enter roundabout onto South Bridge Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
State Highway 124
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 124
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
11.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
North Farwell Street
Turn left onto North Farwell Street
Navigation decision point
3
12 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
East Grand Avenue
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.06 | $4.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.31 | $4.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 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 | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
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.
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Night in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
22 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
21m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% highway share, the path relies on local roads that demand your attention as you transition between the two towns. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the route is defined by its frequent turns and local traffic flow. Navigating these roads requires a steady focus, providing a very different experience than a high-speed highway transit. The character of the drive is practical and functional, serving as a direct link between the two neighboring communities.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.6 mi on US 53 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 Business and State Highway 124. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Bridge Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Bridge Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (State Highway 124): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.6 miles (North Farwell Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 12 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.6 miles on US 53 Business. 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: at 0.2 miles (South Bridge Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (State Highway 124): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.6 miles (North Farwell Street): Navigation decision point.
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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