Medford to Eau Claire is 80.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 42 minutes via WI 29 and US 53, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within Wisconsin, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive primarily on highways, making it an efficient option if you're looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this route for its simplicity and speed, especially if you're on a tighter schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40 miles from Medford, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WI 29
55.4 mi
1h 2m
State Highway 13
11.8 mi
17m
US 53
5.9 mi
6m
Birch Street
1.5 mi
2m
South 8th Street
0.9 mi
2m
East Spruce Street
0.9 mi
1m
North 4th Street
0.6 mi
1m
River Prairie Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 55.4 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medford, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on South 4th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South 4th Street
2
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·East Perkins Street
3
Turn slight right
259 ft·9 sec
4
Turn straight onto WI 13
0.9 mi·2 min·South 8th Street
5
Continue on WI 13
12 mi·17 min·State Highway 13
6
Continue on WI 13
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
7
Turn right onto WI 29 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·East Spruce Street
8
Continue on WI 29 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·Hiline Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward WI 29 West: Chippewa Falls
10
Merge onto WI 29
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·WI 29
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
12
Merge onto US 53
5.9 mi·6 min·US 53
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward River Prairie Drive
14
Keep slight right at fork
207 ft·6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto River Prairie Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·River Prairie Drive
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on Birch Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Birch Street
17
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Germania Street
18
Continue on East Madison Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East Madison Street
19
Turn left onto North Farwell Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Farwell Street
20
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft·1 sec·East Grand Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over 1.5 hours, this route offers flexibility for departure times. You can easily start your drive anytime during daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at around $13, it's an economical trip. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own brief breaks as needed, perhaps after the longest stretch of 55.4 miles on WI 29, to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway stretches can sometimes be longer between services.
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 40 miles from Medford, WI, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 18 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 53m 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 25m
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 Medford, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Medford, WI
This is one driving day of about 80.1 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Medford, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on WI 29 for about 55.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 40 miles from Medford, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 77.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|East Perkins Street
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
Navigation decision point
5
14.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the ramp toward WI 29 West: Chippewa Falls
Navigation decision point
Toward WI 29 West: Chippewa Falls
4
70.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
4
77 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward River Prairie Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward River Prairie Drive
7
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.52 one way
$25.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.75
$27.50
premium
$4.89
$15.41
$30.83
diesel
$5.61
$17.69
$35.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.41
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$7.01
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.21
$5.13
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Medford, WI
Late night
in Medford on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 12 to 18 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 11:46AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 11:46AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Late night
in Eau Claire on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy
WNW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 11:46AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 11:46AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
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 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 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey on main roads like WI 29, State Highway 13, and US 53. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, including one uninterrupted segment of 55.4 miles on WI 29. The road's character remains largely consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over varied scenery. Expect a driving experience geared towards covering distance quickly rather than exploring meandering backroads.
91% 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: 55.4 mi on WI 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 29 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near East Perkins Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 80.1 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 0.3 miles (East Perkins Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 80.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.4 miles on WI 29. 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 0.3 miles (East Perkins Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eau Claire, WI before heading back.
