Origin
Poynette, WI
Night in Poynette on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Poynette, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
155.4 mi
250 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Poynette, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel the 155.8 miles between Poynette and Eau Claire, expect a journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes. This route is best suited as a straightforward day trip, as it does not require an overnight stay to reach your destination. You will primarily navigate via a combination of County Highways Q, CS, and J, steering clear of major interstates. With a projected fuel cost of about $24, the trip is quite economical for a direct drive. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will remain in the familiar terrain of Wisconsin throughout your travels.
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
77.7 miles from Poynette, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 76.1 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 90 | 63.5 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 39 | 6.3 mi | 6m |
| County Highway CS | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 53 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Farwell Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 76.1 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poynette, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on CTH Q; CTH CS
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto CTH Q; CTH CS
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
County Hwys Q & CS
3
Continue on CTH CS
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway CS
4
Continue on CTH J; CTH CS
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
County Hwys J & CS
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
6
Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 39; I 90; I 94
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
11
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
12
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
13
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
14
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
15
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
16
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
17
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With no scheduled stops required by the route profile, you can easily complete the drive in one go, though staying alert is key given the winding nature of the county highways. Budgeting roughly $24 for fuel should cover your needs, but it is wise to fill up before leaving Poynette to avoid searching for stations on smaller roads. Keep a close watch on your GPS, as the transition between County Highways Q, CS, and J requires frequent turns. Taking the journey at a steady, cautious pace will ensure you arrive in Eau Claire safely.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.7 miles from Poynette, WI, or about 1h 26m 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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.7 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 19m
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 Poynette, 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 Poynette, WI
This is one driving day of about 155.4 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Poynette, 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
78 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 77.7 miles from Poynette, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 150.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
10.4 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
5
150 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m 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
150.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m 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
$24.30 one way
$48.59 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.67 | $53.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.91 | $59.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.31 | $68.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.6 | 0 | $16.32 | $7.46 |
| Efficient EV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.60 | $6.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.76 | $9.95 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Night in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Clifton, WI
78 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
17 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
2h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on county roads, meaning your highway share is 0%. You will be navigating a winding path through the local landscape rather than cruising at high speeds on a freeway. Because the route is composed of smaller connectors like County Highway CS, you should anticipate a more technical driving experience. Expect a steady, hands-on pace that keeps you engaged with the road from start to finish.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
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 155.4 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 3.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Poynette, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
73.9 mi in
|
~1h 22m
|
via I 94
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 155.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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.
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 3.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
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