Eau Claire to Delafield is 220.2 miles and takes about 4h 1m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The drive is almost entirely on the interstate, making it a straightforward path. It's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without complex navigation.
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
110.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
213.3 mi
3h 48m
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
US 53
0.4 mi
<1m
Genesee Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Brackett Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 213.3 mi, about 3h 48m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,525 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,991
Quietest
2 AM
~103 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Delafield, 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 left at fork onto I 94
46 mi·48 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 285Toward CTH C: DelafieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto CTH C
0.2 mi·18 sec·County Highway C
17
Continue on CTH C
0.4 mi·46 sec·Genesee Street
18
Turn right onto Main Street
121 ft·3 sec·Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Eau Claire in the morning is ideal to give you flexibility. You'll encounter only one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break rather than a lengthy meal. The longest continuous driving segment is over 213 miles on I 94, so ensure you're comfortable with extended highway cruising. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $39, and service areas can vary in frequency on interstates.
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 110.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.3 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 48 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.1 miles or 2h 2m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Delafield, 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 220.2 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 213.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 219.7 — 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 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
7
219.4 mi into trip|~3h 59m in
Take the exit toward CTH C: Delafield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 285
Toward CTH C: Delafield
5
219.7 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|CTH C / County Highway C
Turn left onto CTH C / County Highway C
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.61 one way
$73.22 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$39.88
$79.76
premium
$5.18
$44.93
$89.87
diesel
$5.35
$46.38
$92.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.12
$10.57
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.27
$8.81
EV Truck/SUV
88.1
1
$30.83
$14.09
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Forecast as of May 25, 2026
Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Afternoon
in Eau Claire on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 25 at 2:14PM CDT until May 26 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Delafield, WI
Afternoon
in Delafield on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
25 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
4h 1m 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.
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 113.9
Park Closure: Devil’s Lake Segment — Balanced Rock Trail Closed May 4–8
Park Closure: Lodi Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway, with 97% of the 220.2 miles on interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I 94, including a continuous stretch of 213.3 miles. Expect frequent exits and entrances along I 94 as you pass through various towns and cities. The remaining 3% of the drive will be on surface roads, likely at the beginning and end of your trip.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 213.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and South Hastings Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 53.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 1m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Delafield is a city in Southeast Wisconsin. It's a launching point for fishing and boating on the lakes, golfing, and miles of hiking and biking trails.
The longest stretch is about 213.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
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 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Delafield, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
