Poynette Rest Area 12
0 mi from route
Trip from Evansville, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 50m
Distance
204 mi
328 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 37m
★
6 AM
3h 50m
8 AM
4h 16m
10 AM
3h 59m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evansville, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Evansville to Eau Claire is 204 miles and takes about 3h 50m via I-94, I-90, and I-39, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, single-day drive that largely keeps you on major interstates. You'll find it’s a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points.
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
102 miles from Evansville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 76.1 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 90 | 63.5 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 39 | 32.4 mi | 34m |
| US Highway 14 | 18.3 mi | 23m |
| West Beltline Highway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 53 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 76.1 mi, about 1h 21m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,456 veh/hr typical · worst 2,263
Quietest
2 AM
~193 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 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 Evansville, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on WI 59; WI 213
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
South Madison Street
2
Turn left onto US 14; WI 59
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Street
3
Continue on US 14; WI 59
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 14; WI 59
4
Continue on US 14; WI 59
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 14
5
Enter roundabout onto US 14
119 ft
·
10 sec
·
US Highway 14
6
Continue on US 14
13 mi
·
16 min
·
US Highway 14
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 14
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 14
Exit 132A-B
Toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 132A
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
9
Merge onto US 12; US 18
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
West Beltline Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 267B
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Merge onto I 39; I 90
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 39; I 90
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
16
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
17
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
18
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
19
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
20
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
21
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
22
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3h 50m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in when you stop. The longest stretch without exits is about 76 miles, so plan your next fuel or rest stop accordingly. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is a good idea, especially if you plan to deviate from the main roads. Consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs before the final push to Eau Claire.
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 102 miles from Evansville, WI, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.1 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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102 miles or 1h 57m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eau Claire, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Evansville, 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 Evansville, WI
This is one driving day of about 204 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Evansville, 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 I 94 for about 76.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102 miles from Evansville, 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 76.1 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
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Portage Rest Area 11
0.1 mi from route
Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0.1 mi from route
Millston Rest Area 53
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Mauston Rest Area 10
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Black River Falls Rest Area 54
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 19.5 and 122.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 14
Take the exit onto US 14 toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 132A-B
Toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
7
19.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 12 East, US 18 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 132A
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 267B
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wiscon...
6
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
122.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.03 one way
$68.06 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $37.13 | $74.26 |
| premium | $5.25 | $42.19 | $84.38 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $50.41 | $100.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.42 | $9.79 |
| Efficient EV | 51 | 0 | $17.85 | $8.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.6 | 1 | $28.56 | $13.06 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Evansville, WI
Late night in Evansville on Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
42°F
Merrimac, WI
102 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
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 50m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 91.4
Caution: Use Caution — Devil's Lake Segment
Caution: Use Caution — Tisch Mills Segment
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 94% of this 204-mile trip. Expect a stretch of 76.1 miles on I-94 where you'll experience consistent, high-speed cruising with fewer exits. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, so plan for mostly uninterrupted interstate driving. The density of exits on the interstates is moderate, so keep an eye out for your chosen stopping points.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.1 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.5 miles in near US 14.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 204 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 19.5 miles (US 14): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,095 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
344 ft
Total Descent
475 ft
Highest Point
1,095 ft
~174.8 mi in
Elevation Range
306 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 Evansville, WI and Eau Claire, WI, road signs point toward Wisconsin Dells and Saint Paul.
Wisconsin Dells
25.7 mi in
|
~34m
Saint Paul
122.4 mi in
|
~2h 18m
|
via I 94
About the Cities
Starting in Evansville, WI
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • St. John’s Lutheran Church — church building in Evansville, Wisconsin, United States
- • Grove Street Historic District — historic district in Evansville, Wisconsin
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.
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
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 50m. Total distance: 204 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m 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 76.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Eau Claire, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.5 miles (US 14): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Eau Claire, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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