Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Clinton, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 10m
Distance
227.2 mi
366 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 58m
★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 37m
10 AM
4h 20m
12 PM
4h 17m
3 PM
4h 21m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Clinton, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Traveling from Eau Claire to Clinton covers 227.2 miles across the heart of Wisconsin. You should plan for about 4 hours and 10 minutes of driving time, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $35, it serves as an efficient way to transit between these two Midwestern locations. Because the route is straightforward and relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have extra errands to run. Expect a reliable, highway-focused journey that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary detours.
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
113.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 167.8 mi | 2h 59m |
| I 39 | 46.7 mi | 50m |
| CTH X | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| South Hastings Way | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Hastings Way | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Farwell Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 43 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 167.8 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Clinton, 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
168 mi
·
2 hr 59 min
·
I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90
47 mi
·
50 min
·
I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
17
Continue on I 43
0.6 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 43
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 2
Toward CTH X: Hart Road
19
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft
·
5 sec
20
Turn right onto CTH X
351 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Hart Road
21
Enter roundabout onto CTH X
168 ft
·
3 sec
·
CTH X
22
Continue on CTH X
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
CTH X
23
Arrive at destination
CTH J; CTH X
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, aim to depart early to avoid any unexpected traffic fluctuations on the main interstates. You only need one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel, which fits perfectly into the 4-hour and 10-minute duration. Since 95% of your travel is on highways, keep a close watch on your speed as you transition off the interstates and onto CTH X near the end of your trip. Having your $35 fuel budget ready ensures you can top off your tank quickly during that single planned stop. This route’s simplicity gives you the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule.
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 113.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.8 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 2h 5m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, 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 227.2 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 I 94 for about 167.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.6 miles from Eau Claire, 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 167.8 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 222.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 53
Enter roundabout onto US 53
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
173.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
I 39; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
5
222.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
Take the exit toward CTH X: Hart Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 2
Toward CTH X: Hart Road
5
222.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.52 one way
$71.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.00 | $78.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.72 | $87.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.16 | $100.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.86 | $10.91 |
| Efficient EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.88 | $9.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.9 | 1 | $31.81 | $14.54 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Clinton, WI
Late night in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
5 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 10m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is dominated by a highway-focused profile, with 95% of your journey spent on major roads like I-94 and I-39. You will spend a significant chunk of your time on a 167.8-mile stretch along I-94, which offers a consistent, high-speed pace. While the transition to CTH X adds a brief change of scenery, the majority of your experience behind the wheel will be defined by interstate travel. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads, perfect for when you just need to get from point A to point B.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 167.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 39. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 53.
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 227.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.4 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.9 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 227.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 167.8 miles on I 94. 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: at 5.4 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.9 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Clinton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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