Origin
Ettrick, WI
Late night in Ettrick on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ettrick, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
59.1 mi
95 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ettrick, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward journey through the heart of the Midwest, this 59.1-mile connection from Ettrick to Eau Claire is an ideal choice. The trip takes approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend about $9 on fuel, keeping the overhead for this Wisconsin trek very low. Because the drive is short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays, allowing you to easily complete the loop in one go. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this highway-focused route offers a reliable way to navigate between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 53 | 26.4 mi | 36m |
| I 94 | 17 mi | 18m |
| Main Street | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 53 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| 10th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Farwell Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 53
— 26.4 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ettrick, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on CTH D
333 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto CTH D
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
1st Street West
3
Turn right onto US 53
16 mi
·
21 min
·
US Highway 53
4
Continue on US 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ervin Street
5
Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Main Street
6
Continue on US 53
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 53
7
Continue on US 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harmony Street
8
Turn right onto US 10
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
10th Street
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
10
Merge onto I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 94
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
13
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
14
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
15
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
16
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
17
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
18
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
19
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Ettrick, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 53.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CTH D / 1st Street West
Turn left onto CTH D / 1st Street West
Navigation decision point
4
16.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street
Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
36.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
6
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.24 one way
$18.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.14 | $20.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.37 | $22.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Rain Showers
NNW 0 to 5 mph
27% chance
Live forecast
41°F
Hale, WI
30 mi in
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
9 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 21m 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 journey is defined by a high-efficiency pace, with 76% of your time spent on major highways. You will rely primarily on US Highway 53, I-94, and Main Street to navigate the corridor. The road’s personality is geared toward consistent movement, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.4 miles on US Highway 53. Transitioning from the local roads onto the interstate system, you will find the drive shifts from smaller thoroughfares to the faster, more predictable flow of Wisconsin’s highway network. It is a functional, highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on US Highway 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 53 and I 94. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CTH D / 1st Street West.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 59.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (CTH D / 1st Street West): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 miles (US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
On the drive from Ettrick, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Superior along the way.
Superior
53.6 mi in
|
~1h 11m
About the Cities
Arriving 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.
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 1h 21m. Total distance: 59.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on US Highway 53. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Eau Claire, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (CTH D / 1st Street West): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 miles (US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eau Claire, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Eau Claire, WI
More trips to Eau Claire, WI
Explore more options from Ettrick, WI or browse trips ending in Eau Claire, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.