Menomonie Eastbound Rest Area 61
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Star Prairie, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
72.2 mi
116 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
12 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Star Prairie, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Eau Claire to Star Prairie is 72.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 32 minutes via I 94 and County Highway T, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within Wisconsin's Midwest region. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it’s a convenient option for a quick journey between these two points. Plan for about 71% of your drive to be on major highways, making for efficient travel. The estimated fuel cost is quite low, around $11, reflecting the modest distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 41.8 mi | 44m |
| County Highway T | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 64 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 65 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| North Crossing | 4 mi | 6m |
| 3rd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jeffers Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Truax Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 41.8 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Star Prairie, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Farwell Street
3
Turn left onto East Madison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Madison Street
4
Turn right onto Bellinger Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Bellinger Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto Platt Street
490 ft
·
9 sec
·
Platt Street
6
Turn right onto 3rd Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street
7
Turn left onto Truax Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Truax Boulevard
8
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Jeffers Road
9
Turn left onto WI 312
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Crossing
10
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-94_East
11
Merge onto I 94
42 mi
·
44 min
·
I 94
12
Take the exit onto Exit 16
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Exit 16
Exit 16
Toward CTH T: Hammond
13
Enter roundabout onto CTH T
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
County Highway T
Toward Hammond
14
Continue on CTH T
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway T
Toward Hammond
15
Continue on US 12; CTH T
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
US-12
16
Turn right onto CTH T
10 mi
·
13 min
·
County Highway T
17
Turn left onto WI 64
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 64
18
Turn right onto WI 65
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 65
19
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
20
Turn right onto CTH M
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bridge Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
CTH M
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 32-minute drive, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Since it's a short trip with a low fuel cost of $11, you can easily make it a same-day adventure. The longest stretch without a major road change is 41.8 miles on I 94, so consider taking a brief break before or after this segment if needed. While there are no specified stops, keep an eye out for services along I 94 before you transition to County Highway T and State Highway 64, as options might be more spread out on those later roads.
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 36.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.8 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.1 miles or 44m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Star Prairie, 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 72.2 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Eau Claire, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 41.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.1 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Menomonie Westbound Rest Area 62
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 72.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Madison Street
Turn left onto East Madison Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Platt Street
At end of road, turn left onto Platt Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
49.4 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
Exit 16
Take the exit onto Exit 16 toward CTH T: Hammond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 16
Toward CTH T: Hammond
6
49.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
CTH T / County Highway T
Enter roundabout onto CTH T / County Highway T toward Hammond
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward Hammond
5
72.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
CTH M / Bridge Avenue
Turn right onto CTH M / Bridge Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.29 one way
$22.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.39 | $24.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.89 | $27.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.94 | $31.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
12 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Woodman's Food Market - Tesla Supercharger
Altoona, WI
Tesla
12 DCFC
Marketplace Foods - Tesla Supercharger
Menomonie, WI
Tesla
8 DCFC
Shoppes at Oakwood - Tesla Supercharger
Eau Claire, WI
Tesla
6 DCFC
Eau Claire Ford
Eau Claire, WI
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Sam's Club 8185 (Eau Claire, WI)
Eau Claire, WI
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Kwik Trip #593
Menomonie, WI
KWIK_CHARGE
4 DCFC
City of Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI
ZEFNET
2 DCFC
29 Pines
Eau Claire, WI
ZEFNET
2 DCFC
Tesla: 3
ChargePoint Network: 2
ZEFNET: 2
FORD_CHARGE: 1
Electrify America: 1
Non-Networked: 1
KWIK_CHARGE: 1
Blink Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.58 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.11 | $4.62 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Night in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Star Prairie, WI
Night in Star Prairie on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
34 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
1h 32m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 71% of the route utilizing major roads like I 94. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving on I 94, totaling 41.8 miles, which allows for steady progress. As you transition to County Highway T and State Highway 64, the character of the drive may shift slightly, potentially offering a more local feel, though the overall profile remains highway-centric. Expect a generally smooth and direct experience, suitable for covering ground efficiently.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and County Highway T. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near East Madison Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 32m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (East Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Platt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 49.4 miles (Exit 16): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,193 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
475 ft
Total Descent
327 ft
Highest Point
1,193 ft
~36.1 mi in
Elevation Range
404 ft
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 Star Prairie, WI, road signs point toward Cth T: Hammond and Hammond.
Cth T: Hammond
49.4 mi in
|
~58m
|
via Exit 16
Hammond
49.7 mi in
|
~59m
|
via CTH T
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 72.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.8 miles on I 94. 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 0.4 miles (East Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Platt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 49.4 miles (Exit 16): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Star Prairie, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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