Eau Claire to Kimberly is 187.1 miles and takes about 3h 56m via US Highway 10 and I-94, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within Wisconsin, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a consistent pace. Given the relatively short duration, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points in the Midwest without extensive planning.
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
93.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 10
92.9 mi
1h 59m
US 10
58.7 mi
1h 10m
I 94
16.7 mi
17m
Tri-County Expressway
6.8 mi
7m
South Hastings Way
2.3 mi
2m
West Division Street
2.1 mi
3m
Hastings Way
0.9 mi
1m
10th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 10
— 92.9 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Kimberly, 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
17 mi·17 min·I 94
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 88Toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
15
Keep slight left at fork
201 ft·6 sec
16
Turn left onto US 10
0.8 mi·1 min·10th Street
17
Continue on US 10
31 mi·41 min·US Highway 10
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 10
2.1 mi·3 min·West Division Street
19
Continue on US 10
21 mi·28 min·US Highway 10
20
Enter roundabout onto US 10
287 ft·16 sec·US Highway 10
21
Continue on US 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US Highway 10
22
Enter roundabout
15 ft·0 sec
23
Continue
399 ft·7 sec
24
Continue on US 10
28 mi·33 min·US Highway 10
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
7.4 mi·8 min·US 10
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Stevens Point
26
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 10; WI 66
Exit 158Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi·1 hr·US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, WaupacaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 10
Toward US 10 East: AppletonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on US 10; WI 441
0.3 mi·19 sec·Tri-County Expressway
30
Continue on US 10; WI 441
0.6 mi·44 sec·Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge
31
Continue on US 10; WI 441
6.5 mi·7 min·Tri-County Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward CTH CE: College AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·12 sec
34
Turn straight onto CTH CE
0.3 mi·27 sec·County Road CE
35
Enter roundabout onto CTH CE
160 ft·2 sec·County Road CE
36
Continue on CTH CE
0.3 mi·27 sec·County Road CE
37
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·24 sec
38
Turn left onto Railroad Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·Railroad Street
39
Enter roundabout onto South Railroad Street
87 ft·5 sec·South Railroad Street
40
Continue on South Railroad Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Railroad Street
41
At end of road, turn right onto West Kimberly Avenue
67 ft·1 sec·West Kimberly Avenue
42
Arrive at destination
West Kimberly Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 4 hours, this is a perfect one-day trip, so you can leave any time that suits your schedule. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. The longest stretch without a major town is over 90 miles, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that section. There's only one major stop indicated, so plan for a brief break to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary.
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 93.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 41 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 2h 4m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kimberly, 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 187.1 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 US Highway 10 for about 92.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.8 and 166.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
22.8 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
6
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Stevens Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Ste...
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 10; WI 66
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66 toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 158
Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, W...
8
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
7
166.7 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|US 10 / US Highway 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 / US Highway 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.25 one way
$58.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.12
$64.23
premium
$4.89
$36.01
$72.01
diesel
$5.61
$41.31
$82.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.1
0
$19.65
$8.98
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.37
$7.48
EV Truck/SUV
74.8
0
$26.19
$11.97
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Late night
in Eau Claire on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kimberly, WI
Late night
in Kimberly on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Whiting, WI
94 mi in
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
3 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 56m 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?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the drive on major roads. You'll encounter a significant 92.9-mile stretch on US Highway 10, which offers a consistent pace for a substantial portion of the journey. While I-94 is also part of the itinerary, the overall character leans towards efficient highway travel rather than winding backroads. Expect a drive where the focus is on covering ground effectively, with fewer complex road changes to navigate.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.9 mi on US Highway 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 10 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 187.1 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 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (US 10; WI 66): 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.
Between Eau Claire, WI and Kimberly, WI, road signs point toward Fairchild, Waupaca and Appleton.
Fairchild
22.8 mi in|~28m
Waupaca
115.5 mi in|~2h 29m|via US 10; WI 66
Appleton
115.5 mi in|~2h 29m|via US 10; WI 66
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 187.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.9 miles on US Highway 10. 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.
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 Kimberly, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (US 10; WI 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Kimberly, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
