Eau Claire to Merrimac is 149.8 miles and takes about 2h 53m via I 94, US 12, and State Highway 136, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a fairly direct trip, mostly on major highways, making it a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points. You can expect a straightforward journey with minimal detours, ideal for a single day of travel.
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
74.9 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
122.5 mi
2h 11m
US 12
7.3 mi
8m
State Highway 136
3.1 mi
5m
South Hastings Way
2.3 mi
2m
State Highway 113
2.3 mi
4m
County Highway DL
2.3 mi
4m
State Road 113
2.1 mi
3m
State Road 78 and 113
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 122.5 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Merrimac, 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
122 mi·2 hr 11 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 92Toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
16
Merge onto US 12
7.3 mi·8 min·US 12
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
18
Enter roundabout onto CTH W
260 ft·5 sec·County Highway W
19
Continue on CTH W
356 ft·7 sec·County Highway W
20
Enter roundabout onto US 12 BUS; CTH W
124 ft·2 sec·South Boulevard West
21
Continue on US 12 BUS; CTH W
0.4 mi·46 sec·South Boulevard West
22
Turn right onto WI 136
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 136
23
Continue on WI 136
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 136
24
Continue on WI 136; CTH DL
0.3 mi·36 sec·State Highway 136
25
Continue on CTH DL
2.3 mi·4 min·County Highway DL
26
At end of road, turn right onto WI 113; CTH DL
2.3 mi·4 min·State Highway 113
27
Continue on WI 113
2.1 mi·3 min·State Road 113
28
At end of road, turn left onto WI 78; WI 113
1.9 mi·2 min·State Road 78 and 113
29
Continue on WI 78; WI 113
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
30
Turn left onto School Street
77 ft·3 sec·School Street
31
Arrive at destination
School Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under three hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan your fuel stops in advance, as the estimated cost is around $23. While the longest stretch is over 122 miles on I 94, be mindful of rest areas or exits if you need a break. A good tip for this route is to check traffic conditions on I 94 before you leave Eau Claire, as it's the busiest section and can impact your travel time.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.9 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.5 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merrimac, 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 149.8 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 122.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 74.9 miles from Eau Claire, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 136.6 — 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.
6
128.5 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 92
Toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
5
128.8 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
136.6 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|CTH W / County Highway W
Enter roundabout onto CTH W / County Highway W
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.42 one way
$46.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.71
$51.43
premium
$4.89
$28.83
$57.66
diesel
$5.61
$33.07
$66.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.73
$7.19
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.11
$5.99
EV Truck/SUV
59.9
0
$20.97
$9.59
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Late night
in Eau Claire on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Partly Cloudy
WNW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 12:10AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Merrimac, WI
Late night
in Merrimac on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 12:10AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
43°F
Clifton, WI
75 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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 118.8
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
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 a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 94, including a longest stretch of 122.5 miles. This means you'll experience a good amount of steady, high-speed driving. As you transition to US 12 and State Highway 136, the character might shift slightly, but the overall feel remains dominated by efficient highway travel. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 12. 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 2h 53m drive. You will face about 15 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 128.5 miles: 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.
On the drive from Eau Claire, WI to Merrimac, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Delton along the way.
Lake Delton
128.5 mi in|~2h 21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 149.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 122.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 128.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Merrimac, WI before heading back.
