Eau Claire to Oshkosh is 183 miles and takes about 3 hours 54 minutes via US Highway 10 and I-94, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route is mostly highway driving, making it a straightforward connection between these two cities. It's a practical choice for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking for a direct path with minimal complexity. You'll spend most of your time on major arteries, so expect a steady pace.
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
91.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 10
82 mi
1h 46m
US 10
58.7 mi
1h 10m
I 94
16.7 mi
17m
US 45
12.8 mi
15m
South Hastings Way
2.3 mi
2m
West Division Street
2.1 mi
3m
Algoma Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
Wisconsin Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 10
— 82 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-39
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,424 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,858
Quietest
1 AM
~56 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Oshkosh, 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
17 mi·17 min·I 94
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 88Toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
15
Keep slight left at fork
201 ft·6 sec
16
Turn left onto US 10
0.8 mi·1 min·10th Street
17
Continue on US 10
31 mi·41 min·US Highway 10
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 10
2.1 mi·3 min·West Division Street
19
Continue on US 10
21 mi·28 min·US Highway 10
20
Enter roundabout onto US 10
287 ft·16 sec·US Highway 10
21
Continue on US 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US Highway 10
22
Enter roundabout
15 ft·0 sec
23
Continue
399 ft·7 sec
24
Continue on US 10
28 mi·33 min·US Highway 10
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
7.4 mi·8 min·US 10
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Stevens Point
26
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 10; WI 66
Exit 158Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi·1 hr·US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, WaupacaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
13 mi·15 min·US 45
Exit 276Toward US 45 South: OshkoshUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Enter roundabout onto US 45
109 ft·2 sec·US Highway 45
30
Continue on US 45
0.4 mi·45 sec·US Highway 45
31
Enter roundabout onto US 45
118 ft·2 sec·Algoma Boulevard
32
Continue on US 45
1.2 mi·2 min·Algoma Boulevard
33
Turn left onto US 45
0.8 mi·2 min·West Murdock Avenue
34
Turn right onto Wisconsin Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Wisconsin Street
35
Turn left onto WI 44
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Irving Avenue
36
Turn right onto US 45
73 ft·2 sec·Jackson Street
37
Arrive at destination
US 45
Trip Plan
Given this is a sub-4-hour drive, you can easily complete the trip to Oshkosh from Eau Claire in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. The longest stretch without a major road change is 82 miles on US Highway 10, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 82-mile mark on US Highway 10, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient service area.
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 91.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82 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 40 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.6 miles or 2h 1m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oshkosh, 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 183.1 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 US Highway 10 for about 82 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.8 and 166.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
22.8 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
6
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Stevens Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Ste...
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 10; WI 66
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66 toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 158
Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, W...
8
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
8
166.7 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 276
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.39 one way
$56.78 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$31.13
$62.25
premium
$4.93
$35.52
$71.05
diesel
$5.60
$40.36
$80.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.9
0
$19.23
$8.79
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.02
$7.32
EV Truck/SUV
73.2
0
$25.63
$11.72
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Aug 27, 2026
Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Evening
in Eau Claire on Monday
Local time
7:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Oshkosh, WI
Evening
in Oshkosh on Monday
Local time
7:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
N 7 mph2% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Stockton, WI
92 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
5 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
3h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 93% of this 183-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 82 miles, occurring on US Highway 10. This means you'll experience extended periods of cruising before transitioning to surface roads. With a high highway percentage, anticipate a route characterized by frequent exits and merges as you navigate between US Highway 10 and I-94.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82 mi on US Highway 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 10 and US 10. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 22.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 183.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (US 10; WI 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,212 ft762 ft
Total Climb
428 ft
Total Descent
451 ft
Highest Point
1,212 ft
~78.5 mi in
Elevation Range
451 ft
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 Oshkosh, WI, road signs point toward Fairchild, Waupaca and Appleton.
Oshkosh is in east-central Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Winnebago. Its unusual name has travelled far as the name of "Oshkosh b'gosh" clothing, and as a synonym for EAA Airventure, one of the world's great celebrations of aviation, held at the Wittman Regional Airport here.
Top landmarks
•EAA Aviation Museum — aviation museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.
•Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church — Historic church building in Oshkosh, Wisconsin United States of America
•Oshkosh Public Museum — historic house in Wisconsin, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 183.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82 miles on US Highway 10. 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 Oshkosh, 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 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (US 10; WI 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Oshkosh, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
