Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Lebanon, 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 13m
Distance
217.5 mi
350 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Eau Claire, WI to Lebanon, WI is 217.5 miles and takes about 4h 13m via I 94 and WI 26, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Wisconsin, taking you from the Midwest's rolling terrain to more rural landscapes. If you're looking for a direct connection with minimal fuss, this highway-focused route will get you there efficiently. Plan for a single-day trip, as the drive is well within the capabilities of a single day's travel.
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
108.7 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 194.5 mi | 3h 28m |
| WI 26 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| County Road EM | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| South Church Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| South Hastings Way | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| North 4th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| County Highway R | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| County Road MM | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 194.5 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Lebanon, 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
27 mi
·
28 min
·
I 94
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 267
Toward WI 26: Watertown, Johnson Creek
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
17
Turn left onto WI 26
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
WI 26
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on WI 26
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
WI 26
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit onto WI 26 Business
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
WI 26 Business
Toward WI 26 Business, CTH Y: Watertown
20
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 26 Business
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
WI 26 Business
Toward WI 26 Business: Watertown
21
Enter roundabout onto WI 26 Business
130 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Church Street
22
Continue on WI 26 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Church Street
23
Turn right onto WI 19; WI 16 Business
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
24
Turn left onto CTH R
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North 4th Street
25
Continue on CTH R
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway R
26
Turn left onto CTH EM
3.5 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road EM
27
Turn right onto CTH MM
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road MM
28
Continue on CTH MM
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Street
29
Arrive at destination
CTH MM
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 13m duration, starting your drive in Eau Claire in the morning is ideal, allowing ample time to reach Lebanon before evening. The $34 fuel estimate is based on the 217.5 miles, so ensure your tank is full before departing to avoid needing to refuel mid-trip. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 194.5 miles on I 94, you can choose to make your stop strategically or push through most of the highway miles before transitioning to surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you move from I 94 to WI 26, as service areas might become less frequent.
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 108.7 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.5 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 48 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.7 miles or 2h 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 Lebanon, 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 217.5 miles and 4h 13m.
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 194.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.7 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 194.5 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 206.1 — 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
8
200.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward WI 26: Watertown, Johnson Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 267
Toward WI 26: Watertown, Johnson Creek
5
206.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 46m in
|
WI 26 Business
Take the exit onto WI 26 Business toward WI 26 Business, CTH Y: Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 26 Business, CTH Y: Watertown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.00 one way
$68.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.33 | $74.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.86 | $83.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.02 | $96.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.3 | 0 | $22.84 | $10.44 |
| Efficient EV | 54.4 | 0 | $19.03 | $8.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87 | 1 | $30.45 | $13.92 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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
Lebanon, WI
Late night in Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
18 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 13m 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 drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 92% of the route on major roads. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 94, covering a significant stretch of 194.5 miles. After this, you'll transition to WI 26 and then County Road EM, indicating a shift to surface roads. Expect a steady cruising pace for most of the trip, with the longest uninterrupted highway segment being quite substantial.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and WI 26. You will hit about 16 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
6/10
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 217.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lebanon, WI, road signs point toward Johnson Creek and Cth Y: Watertown.
Johnson Creek
200.5 mi in
|
~3h 38m
Cth Y: Watertown
206.1 mi in
|
~3h 46m
|
via WI 26 Business
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 217.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.5 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.
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 Lebanon, 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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Lebanon, 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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