Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Evening in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
5:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Laona, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 3m
Distance
186.5 mi
300 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 51m
★
6 AM
4h 4m
8 AM
4h 30m
10 AM
4h 13m
12 PM
4h 10m
3 PM
4h 14m
5 PM
4h 28m
8 PM
3h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Laona, WI
Hải Nguyễn
Trip Overview
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Laona, WI covers 186.5 miles and takes about 4h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on WI 29, State Highway 52, State Highway 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.7 miles on WI 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
93.3 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WI 29 | 87.7 mi | 1h 40m |
| State Highway 52 | 35.4 mi | 52m |
| State Highway 64 | 27.6 mi | 40m |
| US 51 | 15.5 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 32 | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| US 53 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Century Avenue | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 87.7 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Laona, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Farwell Street
3
Turn right onto East Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Madison Street
4
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Germania Street
5
Continue on Birch Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Birch Street
6
Continue on River Prairie Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
River Prairie Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 53
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 53
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 95A
Toward WI 29 East: Green Bay
10
Merge onto WI 29
88 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
WI 29
11
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 52
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
WI 52
Exit 164A-B
Toward US 51 North, US 52 North: Wausau, Merill
12
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward WI 51 North: Merrill
13
Merge onto US 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward WI 64, WI 17: Merrill, Antigo
15
Turn right onto WI 64
26 mi
·
38 min
·
State Highway 64
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto North Hogan Street
52 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Hogan Street
17
Turn left onto WI 64
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Century Avenue
18
Continue on WI 64; WI 52
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 64
19
Turn left onto WI 52
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 52
20
Continue on WI 52
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 52
21
Continue on WI 52
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 52
22
At end of road, turn right onto WI 52; WI 55
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
State Highway 55
23
Turn left onto WI 52
17 mi
·
24 min
·
State Highway 52
24
At end of road, turn left onto WI 32
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 32
25
At end of road, turn right onto US 8
372 ft
·
18 sec
·
Pine Street
26
Turn left onto US 8
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Linden Street
27
Arrive at destination
Linden Street
Trip Plan
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 93.3 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.7 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 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.3 miles or 1h 50m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laona, 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 186.5 miles and 4h 3m.
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 WI 29 for about 87.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.3 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 WI 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.7 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 97.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
8.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward WI 29 East: Green Bay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 95A
Toward WI 29 East: Green Bay
7
96.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
WI 52
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 52 toward US 51 North, US 52 North: Wausau, Merill
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 164A-B
Toward US 51 North, US 52 North: Wausau, Merill
5
96.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 51 North: Merrill
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward WI 51 North: Merrill
5
97.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
US 51
Merge onto US 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.91 one way
$57.83 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $31.71 | $63.41 |
| premium | $4.93 | $36.18 | $72.37 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $41.11 | $82.22 |
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: 65.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56 | 0 | $19.58 | $8.95 |
| Efficient EV | 46.6 | 0 | $16.32 | $7.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.11 | $11.94 |
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.
Destination
Laona, WI
Evening in Laona on Saturday
Local time
5:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
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
4h 3m 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?
186.5 mi in 4h 3m, mostly highway — 87.7 mi of that is on WI 29.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.7 mi on WI 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 29 and State Highway 52. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 186.5 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 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.6 miles (WI 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,579 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
1,049 ft
Total Descent
259 ft
Highest Point
1,579 ft
~186.5 mi in
Elevation Range
790 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 Laona, WI, road signs point toward Merill and Antigo.
Merill
96.6 mi in
|
~1h 53m
|
via WI 52
Antigo
113.4 mi in
|
~2h 14m
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 Laona, WI
Full guide →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 4h 3m. Total distance: 186.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.7 miles on WI 29. 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 Laona, 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 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.6 miles (WI 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Laona, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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