Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Winneconne, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 46m
Distance
177 mi
285 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 34m
★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 12m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 53m
3 PM
3h 57m
5 PM
4h 11m
8 PM
3h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Winneconne, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Eau Claire to Winneconne is 177 miles and takes about 3h 46m via US Highway 10, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, traversing the Midwest region. With 94% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering distance. It's a practical choice for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
88.5 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m 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 | 7 mi | 8m |
| South Hastings Way | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| West Division Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 116 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Winneconne, 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 88
Toward 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 158
Toward 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, Waupaca
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
US 45
Exit 276
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward WI 116, CTH GG: Winneconne
30
Turn right onto WI 116
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 116
31
Continue on WI 116
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
WI 116
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3h 46m duration, you can comfortably start your drive from Eau Claire anytime in the morning and still reach Winneconne by afternoon. The 177-mile trip has a low fuel cost of around $28, so you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Plan for just one main stop if needed, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs. Since it's a manageable single-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 88.5 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 1h 58m 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.5 miles or 1h 58m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winneconne, 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 177 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.5 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 US Highway 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 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
$29.53 one way
$59.05 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $32.09 | $64.18 |
| premium | $5.26 | $36.65 | $73.29 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $43.06 | $86.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.1 | 0 | $18.59 | $8.50 |
| Efficient EV | 44.3 | 0 | $15.49 | $7.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.78 | $11.33 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Late night in Eau Claire on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Winneconne, WI
Late night in Winneconne on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
1 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 46m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 94% of the 177 miles on US Highway 10 and I-94. The longest uninterrupted stretch on US Highway 10 covers 82 miles. Expect a generally rural cruising feel for significant portions of the drive. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you approach your destination.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 10 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 177 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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
1,223 ft
758 ft
Total Climb
515 ft
Total Descent
546 ft
Highest Point
1,223 ft
~63.2 mi in
Elevation Range
465 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 Winneconne, WI, road signs point toward Fairchild, Waupaca and Appleton.
Fairchild
22.8 mi in
|
~28m
Waupaca
115.5 mi in
|
~2h 29m
|
via US 10; WI 66
Appleton
115.5 mi in
|
~2h 29m
|
via US 10; WI 66
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.
Top landmarks
- • Sacred Heart Church — church building in Wisconsin, United States of America
- • Martin Van Buren Barron House — historic house in Wisconsin, United States
- • Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House — United States historic place
Arriving in Winneconne, WI
Full guide →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 3h 46m. Total distance: 177 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Winneconne, 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. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Winneconne, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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