Lake Emily County Park
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Amherst Junction, Wisconsin
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+17158243175
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 5m
Distance
190.8 mi
307 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Black Wolf, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Black Wolf to Eau Claire is 190.8 miles and takes about 4h 5m via US Highway 10 and I 94, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Wisconsin for its entirety, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused journey with minimal detours, making it an ideal choice for a single-day trip. Given its relatively short duration and primary highway routing, this route is efficient for getting you from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
95.4 miles from Black Wolf, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 190.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey utilizing major roadways like US Highway 10 and I 94. You'll experience a significant stretch of 130.1 miles on US Highway 10, offering a consistent pace for a large portion of your travel. While the majority is high-speed highway, the route transitions between different highway types, providing a varied driving experience without venturing onto slower local roads. It's designed for efficiency, meaning you'll spend most of your time on the main arteries.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 10 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near I 41; US 41.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 190.8 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 4.2 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto I 41; US 41 toward Appleton
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: New London
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 10 | 130.1 mi | 2h 43m |
| I 94 | 17 mi | 18m |
| US 45 | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| I 41 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| US 10 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| East Division Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| County Road N | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Black Wolf, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
Start on Country Club Road
Turn right onto Nekimi Avenue
Turn right onto CTH I
Turn left onto CTH N
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 41; US 41
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 45
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Continue on US 10
Take the exit onto US 10
Take the exit onto US 10
Enter roundabout onto US 10
Continue on US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
Merge onto US 10
Continue on US 10
Continue on US 10
Continue on US 10
Take the exit
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 53
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
Continue on Harding Avenue
Continue on Washington Street
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
Arrive at destination
With a driving time of just over 4 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. To make the most of your drive, consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample time for any unexpected delays or spontaneous stops. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 130.1 miles on US Highway 10, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps before embarking on that segment. Since this is a shorter, highway-intensive route, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but ensuring you have enough fuel before hitting that long stretch on US 10 is key.
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.
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 42 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.4 miles or 1h 58m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eau Claire, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Black Wolf, 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 Black Wolf, WI
This is one driving day of about 190.8 miles and 4h 5m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.4 mi from Black Wolf, WI · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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.
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95.4 miles from Black Wolf, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.1 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Eau Claire, WI.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Amherst Junction, Wisconsin
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+17158243175
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Regular Gas
$29.83 one way
$59.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.75 | $65.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.72 | $73.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.13 | $84.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.2 | 0 | $20.03 | $9.16 |
| Efficient EV | 47.7 | 0 | $16.70 | $7.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.3 | 0 | $26.71 | $12.21 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Black Wolf on Friday
Local time
7:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Areas Of Fog
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 16 at 11:57PM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 11:57PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Evening in Eau Claire on Friday
Local time
7:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 16 at 11:57PM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 11:57PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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