Origin
Black River Falls, WI
Morning in Black River Falls on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Black River Falls, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
51 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Black River Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick Midwestern connection between Black River Falls and Eau Claire, this 51.4-mile journey is a straightforward option. You can easily complete the drive in about 52 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. Since the route stays within Wisconsin, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the entire trek. Budgeting roughly $8 for fuel is sufficient for the trip, keeping costs very manageable. Because of the short duration, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you to focus on the drive itself. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 51 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience on this route. You will navigate using South 3rd Street, Main Street, and North Water Street, which requires more attention than a standard highway cruise. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a series of local transitions rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of road. The path keeps you engaged with frequent turns, so keep your focus on the road ahead. Navigating these local streets offers a different pace compared to major thoroughfares, giving you a very hands-on driving experience for the duration of the 51.4 miles.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and South Hastings Way. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 3rd Street.
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 51 miles you will encounter 10 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 (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (WI 54 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 12; WI 27 / North Water Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 3rd Street
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WI 54 / Main Street
Turn right onto WI 54 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 12; WI 27 / North Water Street
Turn left onto US 12; WI 27 / North Water Street
Navigation decision point
5
45.6 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
45.8 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
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 Black River Falls, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Superior along the way.
Superior
45.6 mi in
|
~51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 43.7 mi | 46m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 53 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Water Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Farwell Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Brackett Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US Highway 12 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 43.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Black River Falls, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on this road
201 ft
·
20 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
154 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto WI 54
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto US 12; WI 27
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Water Street
5
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
US Highway 12
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto I 94
44 mi
·
46 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
10
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
11
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
12
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
13
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
14
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
15
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
16
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.5 mi from Black River Falls, WI · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.5 miles from Black River Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Eau Claire, WI
The final approach into Eau Claire, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.97 one way
$15.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.75 | $17.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.81 | $19.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.26 | $22.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.46 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Morning in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Osseo, WI
26 mi in
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Black River Falls, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 51 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, South Hastings Way, US 53. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.5 miles from Black River Falls, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.97 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (WI 54 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 12; WI 27 / North Water Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Black River Falls, WI to Eau Claire, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Superior along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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