Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 42m
Distance
228.3 mi
367 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Newburg, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI to Newburg, WI is 228.3 miles and takes about 4h 42m via I 94 and State Highway 33, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It’s a straightforward drive, primarily on interstates and state highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Plan for a solid chunk of driving, but it's manageable without needing an overnight stop.
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
114.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 136.4 mi | 2h 26m |
| State Highway 33 | 30.3 mi | 43m |
| State Highway 16 | 22.6 mi | 31m |
| US 151 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| West Washington Street | 5.6 mi | 11m |
| WI 33 | 4 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 51 & State Highway 16 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| South Hastings Way | 2.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Newburg, WI.
Start on East Grand Avenue
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Continue on Harding Avenue
Continue on Brackett Avenue
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto US 53 Business
Take the ramp onto US 53 Business
Turn straight onto US 53
Enter roundabout onto US 53
Continue on US 53
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto WI 33
Turn right onto US 51; WI 16
Continue on US 51; WI 16
Turn left onto WI 16
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
Turn left
Merge onto US 151
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on Washington Street
Turn left onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Turn straight onto WI 33
Turn right onto WI 33; CTH E
Continue on WI 33
Enter roundabout onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33; CTH W
Continue on WI 33; WI 144
Continue on WI 33
Turn left onto Salisbury Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 42m duration, leaving Eau Claire in the morning should allow you to reach Newburg with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, consider planning your break around the halfway point or where you might need to refuel. The longest stretch on I 94 means you can cover significant ground quickly, but be mindful of your fuel gauge before entering that section. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on weather or traffic.
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.
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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.1 miles or 2h 6m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newburg, WI than in the middle of the route.
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 228.3 miles and 4h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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.
A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 114.1 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 136.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 187.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto US 53
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward WI 33: Beaver Dam, Horicon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$35.69 one way
$71.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.19 | $78.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.93 | $87.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.41 | $100.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.97 | $10.96 |
| Efficient EV | 57.1 | 0 | $19.98 | $9.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.3 | 1 | $31.96 | $14.61 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Eau Claire on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Newburg on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 92% of your journey on major roads like I 94 and State Highway 16. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 136.4 miles on I 94, so settle in for consistent highway speeds. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of State Highway 33 offers a slight change of pace as you approach your destination. This drive prioritizes efficiency over winding scenic byways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 33. 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.
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 228.3 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 142.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Eau Claire, WI and Newburg, WI, road signs point toward Baraboo and Horicon.
Baraboo
Horicon
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 228.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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