Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Morning in Eau Claire on Tuesday
Local time
7:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Little Black, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
76.3 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Little Black, WI
C'Pho Ngondo R.Rouge
Trip Overview
Eau Claire, WI to Little Black, WI is 76.3 miles and takes about 1h 36m via WI 29, State Highway 13, and US 53, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, traversing the Midwest. With 92% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward drive. This is a solid option if you're looking for a quick, efficient connection between two points in Wisconsin, with minimal fuss and a low fuel cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.2 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WI 29 | 54.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| State Highway 13 | 10.7 mi | 15m |
| US 53 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Spruce Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| River Prairie Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 4th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Farwell Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 54.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Little Black, 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
54 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
WI 29
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 131
Toward WI 29 Business: Spruce Street, Hiline Avenue
12
Turn left onto WI 29 Business
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hiline Avenue
13
Continue on WI 29 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Spruce Street
14
Turn left onto WI 13
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on WI 13
11 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 13
16
Turn left onto Apple Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Apple Avenue
17
Turn right onto Black Birch Drive
94 ft
·
4 sec
·
Black Birch Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Black Birch Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 36m duration, you have a lot of flexibility for departure time. Aim to leave Eau Claire mid-morning to avoid rush hour and allow for a relaxed pace. The longest stretch without a major change is 54.5 miles on WI 29, so plan your fuel and any quick stops before hitting that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical drive, but it's always wise to top off your tank in Eau Claire before you depart to ensure you have ample range. This is a one-day trip, so no overnight accommodations are needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.2 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.2 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little Black, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Eau Claire, WI
This is one driving day of about 76.3 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Eau Claire, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on WI 29 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.2 miles from Eau Claire, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 76.3 — 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
6
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward WI 29 Business: Spruce Street, Hiline Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 131
Toward WI 29 Business: Spruce Street, Hiline Av...
5
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
WI 13 / North 4th Street
Turn left onto WI 13 / North 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
76.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
Black Birch Drive
Turn right onto Black Birch Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.93 one way
$23.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.10 | $26.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.68 | $29.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.85 | $33.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.01 | $3.66 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.68 | $4.88 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Little Black, WI
Morning in Little Black on Tuesday
Local time
7:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
20 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
1h 36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 92% of the 76.3 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 54.5 miles on WI 29 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect consistent cruising with fewer intersections for the majority of the trip. The shift to State Highway 13 and US 53 will likely involve more local traffic and potential for more frequent exits as you approach your destination.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on WI 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 29 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 76.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 63.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
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 1h 36m. Total distance: 76.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m 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 54.5 miles on WI 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 63.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little Black, WI before heading back.
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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