Origin
Wausaukee, WI
Morning in Wausaukee on Tuesday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wausaukee, 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
4h 46m
Distance
225.2 mi
362 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 33m
★
6 AM
4h 47m
8 AM
5h 14m
10 AM
4h 56m
12 PM
4h 54m
3 PM
4h 58m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wausaukee, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 230.6 miles across the heart of Wisconsin, this drive connects Wausaukee to Eau Claire in approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. You can easily complete this journey in a single day, making it an efficient way to traverse the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $35, it remains a budget-friendly option for your regional travels. While the route requires only one recommended stop, the turn-heavy nature of the local roads means you should stay alert behind the wheel. Use this trip as a straightforward connection between these two Wisconsin communities, keeping in mind that the pace is dictated by local infrastructure rather than high-speed interstates.
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
112.6 miles from Wausaukee, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WI 29 | 90.1 mi | 1h 43m |
| State Highway 29 | 36.8 mi | 42m |
| Main Street | 35.2 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 22 | 24 mi | 38m |
| Ringle Avenue | 18 mi | 20m |
| US 53 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| State Hwy 22 | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| County Road MMM | 2.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 90.1 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wausaukee, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on this road
20 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
31 ft
·
4 sec
3
Turn right onto US 141
35 mi
·
45 min
·
Main Street
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
5
Turn right onto WI 22
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Highway 22
6
Continue on WI 22
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
State Hwy 22
7
Turn right onto East Highland Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highland Drive
8
Turn right onto WI 22
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Main Street
9
Continue on WI 22
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 22
10
Enter roundabout onto WI 22; WI 32
97 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Highway 22
11
Continue on WI 22; WI 32
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 22
12
Continue on WI 22
258 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Highway 22
13
Continue on WI 22
493 ft
·
8 sec
·
North McKenzie Avenue
14
Continue on WI 22
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North McKenzie Street
15
Continue on WI 22
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
16
Continue on WI 22
16 mi
·
26 min
·
State Highway 22
17
Continue on WI 22; WI 47; WI 55; WI 29 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Green Bay Street
18
Turn right onto North Ellis Street
323 ft
·
19 sec
·
North Ellis Street
19
Turn left onto East 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
East 5th Street
20
Turn left onto North Union Street
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Union Street
21
Turn right onto WI 22; WI 47; WI 55; WI 29 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Green Bay Street
22
Continue on CTH MMM; WI 29 Business
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road MMM
23
Turn right onto WI 29
37 mi
·
42 min
·
State Highway 29
24
Continue on WI 29
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Ringle Avenue
25
Take the exit onto WI 29
90 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
WI 29
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
27
Merge onto US 53
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 53
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward River Prairie Drive
29
Keep slight right at fork
207 ft
·
6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
30
Turn straight onto River Prairie Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
River Prairie Drive
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on Birch Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Birch Street
32
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Germania Street
33
Continue on East Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Madison Street
34
Turn left onto North Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Farwell Street
35
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan to depart early in the day to handle the turn-heavy local sections during daylight hours. Since the trip takes 3 hours and 45 minutes, a single planned stop is sufficient to keep you refreshed and focused on the winding roads. Keep your $35 fuel budget in mind, but consider topping off your tank before you leave Wausaukee to avoid searching for stations on unfamiliar local roads. Given the lack of highway miles, flexibility is your greatest advantage; don't rush the turns, as the road conditions will likely require a moderate speed. Prioritizing consistent pacing over speed will make this 230.6-mile trek significantly more comfortable.
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 112.6 miles from Wausaukee, WI, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.1 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 50 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.6 miles or 2h 34m 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 57m
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 Wausaukee, 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 Wausaukee, WI
This is one driving day of about 225.2 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Wausaukee, 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 WI 29 for about 90.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.6 miles from Wausaukee, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before WI 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.1 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 222.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
North Union Street
Turn left onto North Union Street
Navigation decision point
7
125.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
|
WI 29
Take the exit onto WI 29 toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
7
222.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.21 one way
$70.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.66 | $77.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.34 | $86.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.72 | $99.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.65 | $10.81 |
| Efficient EV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.71 | $9.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.1 | 1 | $31.53 | $14.41 |
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.
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Morning in Eau Claire on Tuesday
Local time
7:52 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
35 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 46m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate away from the typical interstate grind. Since this route features zero percent highway share, you will be traveling exclusively on local roads that provide a more intimate look at the Wisconsin landscape. The journey lacks long, monotonous stretches, instead offering a series of turns that require active steering and consistent engagement. Because the profile is technical rather than fast, you should anticipate a slower, more deliberate travel pace. Prepare yourself for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over the convenience of a major highway system.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.1 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 29. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 225.2 miles you will encounter 20 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 67.4 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 67.6 miles (North Union Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Wausaukee, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Chippewa Falls along the way.
Chippewa Falls
125.6 mi in
|
~2h 49m
|
via WI 29
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 4h 46m. Total distance: 225.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.1 miles on WI 29. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 67.4 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 67.6 miles (North Union Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Eau Claire, WI
More trips to Eau Claire, WI
Explore more options from Wausaukee, WI or browse trips ending in Eau Claire, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.