Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0 mi from route
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Dayton, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
194.2 mi
313 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Dayton, WI
Chris Flaten
Trip Overview
Eau Claire, WI to Dayton, WI is 194.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m via I 94 and US 12, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Wisconsin. Most of the drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this is a good option for a single-day excursion.
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
97.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 122.5 mi | 2h 11m |
| US 12 | 45.4 mi | 1h |
| Verona Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| County Highway PB | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| County Highway DD | 3 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 69 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| South Hastings Way | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Remy Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 122.5 mi, about 2h 11m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~946 veh/hr typical · worst 1,701
Quietest
2 AM
~126 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Dayton, 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
122 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 92
Toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
16
Merge onto US 12
22 mi
·
27 min
·
US 12
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 12; WI 60
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Phillips Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 12; WI 78
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
US 12; WI 78
19
Continue on US 12; WI 19
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
US 12; WI 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 12; US 14; CTH M
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
US 12; US 14; CTH M
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 258
Toward US 18 West, US 151 South: Midvale Boulevard, Verona Road
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
461 ft
·
13 sec
Toward US 18 West, US 151 South: Verona Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 18; US 151
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Verona Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 79
Toward CTH PB
Use the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
136 ft
·
5 sec
26
Turn left onto CTH PB
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Old County Road PB
27
Continue on CTH PB
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway PB
28
Continue on Dianne Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Dianne Avenue
29
At end of road, turn left onto WI 69
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 69
30
Turn left onto Frenchtown Road
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Frenchtown Road
31
Turn right onto Remy Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Remy Road
32
At end of road, turn left onto CTH D
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road D
33
Turn right onto CTH DD
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway DD
34
At end of road, turn right onto WI 92; CTH D
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
State Highway 92
35
Turn left onto Dayton Street
217 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dayton Street
36
Arrive at destination
Dayton Street
Trip Plan
For this 194.2-mile drive, leaving Eau Claire in the morning gives you plenty of time to reach Dayton before evening. The route is mostly highway, so fuel stops are likely to be clustered around exits on I 94. Consider filling up before you leave Eau Claire to take advantage of potentially lower prices, though your estimated fuel cost is only $34. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to push through or take a break as needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 94 to US 12, as this marks the shift to more local road driving.
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 97.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.5 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 43 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.1 miles or 1h 48m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, 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 194.2 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 122.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.1 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 122.5 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.
Millston Rest Area 53
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest area
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Black River Falls Rest Area 54
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Mauston Rest Area 10
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 181.3 — 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
6
128.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 92
Toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
8
175.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 18 West, US 151 South: Midvale Boulevard, Verona Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 258
Toward US 18 West, US 151 South: Midvale Boulev...
9
175.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 18 West, US 151 South: Verona Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 18 West, US 151 South: Verona Road
7
181.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 34m in
Take the exit toward CTH PB
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 79
Toward CTH PB
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.29 one way
$64.58 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $35.17 | $70.34 |
| premium | $5.18 | $39.63 | $79.26 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $40.90 | $81.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.3 | 0 | $20.39 | $9.32 |
| Efficient EV | 48.6 | 0 | $16.99 | $7.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.19 | $12.43 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Afternoon in Eau Claire on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Dayton, WI
Afternoon in Dayton on Wednesday
Local time
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
E 10 mph
0% chance
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
6 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 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 113.8
Caution: Summit Moraine Segment — Timber Harvest Nearby
Park Closure: Sturgeon Bay Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 88% of your time on highways, equating to nearly 171 miles of high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch on I 94 covers 122.5 miles. After that, expect a change as you transition to US 12 and Verona Road, which will feel more like surface streets with more frequent intersections.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 53.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 194.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 128.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,082 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
837 ft
Total Descent
735 ft
Highest Point
1,082 ft
~69.4 mi in
Elevation Range
293 ft
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.
Between Eau Claire, WI and Dayton, WI, road signs point toward Lake Delton and Cth.
Lake Delton
128.5 mi in
|
~2h 21m
Cth
181.3 mi in
|
~3h 34m
About the Cities
Starting 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.
Top landmarks
- • Sacred Heart Church — church building in Wisconsin, United States of America
- • Martin Van Buren Barron House — historic house in Wisconsin, United States
- • Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House — United States historic place
Arriving in Dayton, WI
Full guide →Founded 1796
Top landmarks
- • National Museum of the United States Air Force — aerospace museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, United States
- • Wright Flyer III — third powered aircraft built by the Wright brothers
- • Dayton Art Institute — art museum and school in Dayton, Ohio
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 3h 55m. Total distance: 194.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Dayton, 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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 128.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Dayton, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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