Origin
Exeter, WI
Late night in Exeter on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Exeter, 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
3h 58m
Distance
195.4 mi
314 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 46m
★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Exeter, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 195.4-mile drive from Exeter to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, will take you approximately 3 hours and 58 minutes. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day adventure. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, it's an economical option for exploring more of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on I-94, I-90, and parts of US Highway 12 & State Highway 60. This route is primarily a highway-focused experience, designed for efficient travel between these two Wisconsin cities.
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
97.7 miles from Exeter, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 76.1 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 90 | 46.9 mi | 50m |
| US Highway 12 & State Highway 60 | 22.1 mi | 28m |
| State Highway 78 | 15.5 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 92 | 12.5 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 69 | 4 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 14 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Argue Road | 2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 76.1 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Exeter, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on Tunnel Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Tunnel Road
2
Turn sharp left onto Argue Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Argue Road
3
Turn left onto CTH W
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway W
4
At end of road, turn right onto WI 69
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 69
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto WI 92
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 92
6
Continue on WI 92
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
7
Continue on WI 92
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 92
8
Continue on WI 92
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South 8th Street
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 78
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 78
10
Continue on WI 78
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 78
11
Continue on WI 78
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Mills Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 14; WI 78
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
State Street
13
Continue on US 14; WI 78
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 14
14
Turn right onto WI 78; WI 19
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 19/78
15
Continue on WI 78
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 78
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; WI 78
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; WI 78
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 12; WI 60
22 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 12 & State Highway 60
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Claire
19
Merge onto I 90; I 94
47 mi
·
50 min
·
I 90; I 94
20
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.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
23
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
24
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
25
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
26
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
27
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
28
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
29
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 58 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination or to break up the 76.1-mile stretch on I-94 if you prefer more frequent stops. With only one suggested stop, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, as you'll be on the highway for extended periods. The $30 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to check your fuel gauge before embarking on the longest highway segments.
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 97.7 miles from Exeter, WI, or about 2h 10m 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 43 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.7 miles or 2h 10m 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 17m
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 Exeter, 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 Exeter, WI
This is one driving day of about 195.4 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Exeter, 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
98 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.7 miles from Exeter, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 190.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Argue Road
Turn sharp left onto Argue Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
5.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
WI 69 / State Highway 69
At end of road, turn right onto WI 69 / State Highway 69
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
22.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
WI 78 / State Highway 78
Enter roundabout onto WI 78 / State Highway 78
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
113.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m 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
6
190.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 49m 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
$30.55 one way
$61.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.54 | $67.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.60 | $75.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.14 | $86.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.6 | 0 | $20.52 | $9.38 |
| Efficient EV | 48.9 | 0 | $17.10 | $7.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.2 | 0 | $27.36 | $12.51 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
S 0 to 10 mph
2% chance
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
13 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
3h 58m 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 80.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 195.4-mile journey, with 94% of it on major interstates and highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 76.1 miles on I-94, offering a consistent pace. While the majority of the route utilizes fast-paced interstates, there are segments on US Highway 12 & State Highway 60 that may offer a slight change of scenery. This drive is built for covering ground efficiently, making it less about leisurely exploration and more about direct transit.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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?
7/10
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 1.2 miles in near Argue Road.
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 17 significant decision points across 195.4 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 1.2 miles (Argue Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.1 miles (WI 69 / State Highway 69): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (WI 78 / State Highway 78): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Exeter, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
113.8 mi in
|
~2h 27m
|
via I 94
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 3h 58m. Total distance: 195.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m 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.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Argue Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.1 miles (WI 69 / State Highway 69): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (WI 78 / State Highway 78): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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