Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Saint Joseph, 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 10m
Distance
102.2 mi
164 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, WI
Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 102.2-mile drive from Saint Joseph to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is easily manageable in just over two hours, making it a perfect day trip. Primarily following I-94 and then State Highway 27 before rejoining I-90, the route stays within the familiar Midwest region. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, this journey is budget-friendly and requires no overnight stops. It’s a practical choice for getting between these two Wisconsin locations without much fuss. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so pack some good podcasts or music.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.1 miles from Saint Joseph, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 45.2 mi | 48m |
| State Highway 27 | 24.6 mi | 33m |
| I 90 | 9 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 162 | 7 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 33 | 6 mi | 8m |
| South Black River Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 53 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on Ridgeview Drive
86 ft
·
6 sec
·
Ridgeview Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto WI 33
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 33
3
Turn left onto WI 162
7.0 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 162
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
5
Merge onto I 90
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 90
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 25
Toward WI 27: Sparta, Melvina
7
Keep slight left at fork
169 ft
·
4 sec
8
Turn left onto WI 27
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Black River Street
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 27
87 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Black River Street
10
Continue on WI 27
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Black River Street
11
Continue on WI 27; WI 71
25 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 27
12
Continue on WI 27
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Gebhardt Road
13
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Roosevelt Road
14
Turn right onto WI 54
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
15
Turn sharp left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
45 mi
·
48 min
·
I 94
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
19
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
20
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
21
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
22
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
23
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
24
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
25
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour and 10-minute duration, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will get you to Eau Claire with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or when you transition to State Highway 27. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing Saint Joseph, as the longest stretch on I-94 is over 45 miles, and you'll want to be prepared.
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 51.1 miles from Saint Joseph, WI, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.2 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 47m
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 Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, WI
This is one driving day of about 102.2 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Saint Joseph, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 45.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.1 miles from Saint Joseph, 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Bangor Rest Area 15
0.1 mi from route
Sparta Rest Area 16
0.1 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 22.4 and 96.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
22.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward WI 27: Sparta, Melvina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 25
Toward WI 27: Sparta, Melvina
5
22.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
51.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
96.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m 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
96.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m 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
$15.98 one way
$31.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.54 | $35.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.67 | $39.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.56 | $45.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.73 | $4.91 |
| Efficient EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.94 | $4.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.31 | $6.54 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Origin
Saint Joseph, WI
Morning in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Morning in Eau Claire on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 6:23PM CDT until April 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 4:45PM CDT until April 19 at 1:27AM CDT by NWS La Crosse 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
29 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 10m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with 91% of the drive on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 45.2 miles on I-94, offering a good opportunity to settle in. While largely an interstate journey, the transition to State Highway 27 and then I-90 introduces some variation. This isn't a winding country road adventure, but rather an efficient path connecting your starting and ending points with consistent speeds for much of the way.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.4 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 102.2 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 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
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 Saint Joseph, WI and Eau Claire, WI, road signs point toward Melvina and Superior.
Melvina
22.4 mi in
|
~31m
Superior
96.7 mi in
|
~2h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 102.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m 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 45.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
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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