Poynette Rest Area 12
0 mi from route
Trip from Palmyra, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
224.4 mi
361 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 1m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 41m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 25m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmyra, WI
mori dad
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Palmyra to Eau Claire is 224.4 miles and takes about 4h 14m via I 94 and I 90, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, taking you across the Midwest from one part of the state to another. Expect a largely highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. With a relatively short duration and a reasonable fuel cost, this route is a practical option for getting from point A to point B without too much fuss. Consider this an efficient way to cover ground if you're looking for a direct path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.2 miles from Palmyra, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 140.3 mi | 2h 30m |
| I 90 | 63.5 mi | 1h 8m |
| County Road E | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| CTH F | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 53 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 140.3 mi, about 2h 30m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,423 veh/hr typical · worst 1,886
Quietest
2 AM
~103 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Palmyra, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on this road
157 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto WI 59
181 ft
·
4 sec
·
North 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto Taft Street
323 ft
·
19 sec
·
Taft Street
4
Turn left onto CTH E
287 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 1st Street
5
Turn right onto CTH E
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Street
6
Continue on CTH E
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
County Road E
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 18; CTH F
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
8
Turn left onto CTH F
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
CTH F
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
10
Merge onto I 94
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 94
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Use the straight / slight right 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
Given the 4h 14m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Palmyra will allow ample time to reach Eau Claire before evening. While only one stop is suggested, plan for brief breaks to stretch and refuel as needed, especially during the 140.3-mile stretch on I 94. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Eau Claire, as the $35 fuel budget is an estimate and can fluctuate. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if your morning is busy, but an earlier start ensures a more relaxed arrival.
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 112.2 miles from Palmyra, WI, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.3 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.2 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 27m
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 Palmyra, 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 Palmyra, WI
This is one driving day of about 224.4 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Palmyra, 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 140.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.2 miles from Palmyra, 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 140.3 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
Johnson Creek Rest Area 14
0.1 mi from route
Millston Rest Area 53
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
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
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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 219.1 — 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 E / North 1st Street
Turn left onto CTH E / North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
9
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
6
79.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m 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
142.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m 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
219.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m 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
$33.14 one way
$66.28 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $36.58 | $73.17 |
| premium | $4.72 | $41.66 | $83.33 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $42.37 | $84.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.3 | 0 | $23.56 | $10.77 |
| Efficient EV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.64 | $8.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.8 | 1 | $31.42 | $14.36 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Palmyra, WI
Afternoon in Palmyra on Monday
Local time
4:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Smoke
S 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:47PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 2:10PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Afternoon in Eau Claire on Monday
Local time
4:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 5 mph
19% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:47PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 2:10PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
85°F
Merrimac, WI
112 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
10 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
4h 14m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 108.3
Caution: Indian Creek Segment — Machinery and Parking Closure
Caution: Dunes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 91% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 94 and I 90. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 140.3 miles on I 94, meaning extended periods of consistent speed and minimal traffic interruptions. While County Road E is part of the route, its share is minor, suggesting the bulk of your time will be spent on these faster, more direct roads. The character is largely that of a functional, efficient transit corridor designed for covering distance.
91% 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: 140.3 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 0.1 miles in near CTH E / North 1st Street.
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 224.4 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 0.1 miles (CTH E / North 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,025 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
402 ft
Total Descent
463 ft
Highest Point
1,025 ft
~208.4 mi in
Elevation Range
236 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.
On the drive from Palmyra, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
142.8 mi in
|
~2h 42m
|
via I 94
About the Cities
Starting in Palmyra, WI
Full guide →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 4h 14m. Total distance: 224.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m 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 140.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CTH E / North 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 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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