This 159.1-mile drive from Eau Claire, WI to Bridgeport, WI is a straightforward, single-day trip taking approximately 3 hours and 37 minutes. Primarily utilizing State Highway 27 and I-94, this route offers a highway-focused experience through the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimated at $25, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. You'll spend most of your time on faster roads, making it an efficient journey. Given its manageable length and the majority of the drive being on main highways, it's perfectly suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stop.
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
79.5 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 27
81.1 mi
1h 52m
I 94
44.9 mi
48m
North Main Street
10.2 mi
18m
Gran Grae Road
6.7 mi
12m
State Highway 60
5.1 mi
7m
South Hastings Way
2.3 mi
2m
Black River Street
1.5 mi
2m
South Black River Street
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 27
— 81.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Bridgeport, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
35 ft·5 sec·East Grand Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Farwell Street
3
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·Washington Street
4
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Harding Avenue
5
Continue on Brackett Avenue
0.3 mi·38 sec·Brackett Avenue
6
Turn slight right
515 ft·18 sec
7
Turn straight onto US 53 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·Hastings Way
8
Take the ramp onto US 53 Business
2.3 mi·2 min·South Hastings Way
9
Turn straight onto US 53
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 53
Toward US 53 South: Brackett
10
Enter roundabout onto US 53
378 ft·5 sec·US 53
11
Continue on US 53
441 ft·8 sec·US 53
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto I 94
45 mi·48 min·I 94
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 116Toward WI 54, I 94 Alternate: Wisconsin Rapids, Black River Falls
15
Keep slight right at fork
208 ft·5 sec
16
Turn straight onto WI 54
0.9 mi·1 min·East Main Street
17
Turn left onto US 12; WI 27
0.2 mi·35 sec·South Roosevelt Road
18
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.3 mi·51 sec·Gebhardt Road
19
Continue on WI 27
25 mi·33 min·State Highway 27
20
Continue on WI 27; WI 71
1.5 mi·2 min·Black River Street
21
Enter roundabout onto WI 27
87 ft·1 sec·South Black River Street
22
Continue on WI 27
1.1 mi·1 min·South Black River Street
23
Continue on WI 27
15 mi·19 min·State Highway 27
24
Enter roundabout onto WI 27
128 ft·7 sec·State Highway 27
25
Continue on WI 27
6.3 mi·8 min·State Highway 27
26
Continue on WI 27
0.6 mi·58 sec·Main Street
27
Keep slight left at fork
400 ft·14 sec
28
Turn straight onto US 14; US 61; WI 27
10 mi·18 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Enter roundabout onto WI 27; WI 82
21 ft·0 sec·State Highway 27
30
Continue on WI 27; WI 82
36 mi·50 min·State Highway 27
31
Turn left onto Gran Grae Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Gran Grae Road
32
At end of road, turn left onto Gran Grae Road
0.4 mi·52 sec·Gran Grae Road
33
Continue on Gran Grae Road
3.6 mi·7 min·Gran Grae Road
34
At end of road, turn right onto WI 60
5.1 mi·7 min·State Highway 60
35
Arrive at destination
WI 60
Trip Plan
Starting early in the morning is a good strategy for this 3-and-a-half-hour drive, allowing you to arrive at your destination with plenty of day left. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace your journey. The estimated fuel cost of $25 makes this an affordable trip, so keeping your tank topped off won't be a major concern. Pay attention to signage as you transition between I-94 and State Highway 27 to ensure you stay on track for Bridgeport, WI.
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 79.5 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 35 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 39m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bridgeport, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, WI
This is one driving day of about 159.1 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Eau Claire, 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 State Highway 27 for about 81.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 153.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Farwell Street
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.4 mi into trip|~9m in|US 53
Enter roundabout onto US 53
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
50.9 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward WI 54, I 94 Alternate: Wisconsin Rapids, Black River Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 116
Toward WI 54, I 94 Alternate: Wisconsin Rapids,...
5
51.1 mi into trip|~58m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
153.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|WI 60 / State Highway 60
At end of road, turn right onto WI 60 / State Highway 60
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.87 one way
$49.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.31
$54.62
premium
$4.89
$30.62
$61.23
diesel
$5.61
$35.13
$70.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.71
$7.64
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.92
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.27
$10.18
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Night
in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
11:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bridgeport, WI
Night
in Bridgeport on Saturday
Local time
11:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 83% highway share on this route, meaning you'll be on faster roads for the bulk of your journey. The drive features a significant uninterrupted stretch of 81.1 miles along State Highway 27, offering a consistent pace. While largely highway-focused, the route will transition through different road types as you navigate between major arteries and local access. This offers a varied driving experience, moving from efficient interstate travel to more direct state highway cruising.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.1 mi on State Highway 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 27 and I 94. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Farwell Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Farwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Eau Claire, WI to Bridgeport, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Black River Falls along the way.
Black River Falls
50.9 mi in|~58m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 159.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 81.1 miles on State Highway 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Farwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bridgeport, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
