Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Afternoon in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
3:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Bristol, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 7m
Distance
268.6 mi
432 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 54m
★
6 AM
5h 8m
8 AM
5h 35m
10 AM
5h 17m
12 PM
5h 14m
3 PM
5h 18m
5 PM
5h 33m
8 PM
5h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Bristol, WI covers 268.6 miles and takes about 5h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, I 39, I 43 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 167.8 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
134.3 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 167.8 mi | 2h 59m |
| I 39 | 37.2 mi | 39m |
| I 43 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| WI 11 | 11.2 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 50 | 10.2 mi | 14m |
| US 12 | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| 75th Street | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| US 14 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 167.8 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Bristol, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
3
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Washington Street
4
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
5
Continue on Brackett Avenue
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
6
Turn slight right
515 ft
·
18 sec
7
Turn straight onto US 53 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hastings Way
8
Take the ramp onto US 53 Business
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Hastings Way
9
Turn straight onto US 53
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 53
Toward US 53 South: Brackett
10
Enter roundabout onto US 53
378 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 53
11
Continue on US 53
441 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 53
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
13
Merge onto I 94
168 mi
·
2 hr 59 min
·
I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 175
Toward WI 11 East: Delavan
16
Keep slight left at fork
518 ft
·
13 sec
17
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
297 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Racine Street
18
Continue on WI 11
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
East Racine Street
19
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
112 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Racine Street
20
Continue on WI 11
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Racine Street
21
Turn straight onto WI 11
11 mi
·
15 min
·
WI 11
22
Continue on US 14
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 14
23
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
24
Merge onto I 43
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 43
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 27A
Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
27
Merge onto US 12
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 330B
Toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Use the right lane.
29
Continue on WI 50; WI 120
10 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 50
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on WI 50; WI 83
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Geneva Road
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on WI 50
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
75th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Turn right onto US 45
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Bristol Road
33
Continue on US 45
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
200th Avenue
34
Turn left onto 82nd Street
339 ft
·
20 sec
·
82nd Street
35
Turn left onto 199th Avenue
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
199th Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
199th Avenue
Trip Plan
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 134.3 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.8 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.3 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, WI
This is one driving day of about 268.6 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Eau Claire, 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 167.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.3 miles from Eau Claire, 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 167.8 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 248.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 53
Enter roundabout onto US 53
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
173.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
I 39; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
6
211.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
|
WI 11 / East Racine Street
Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
239.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
7
248.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
Take the exit toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 330B
Toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.99 one way
$83.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.11 | $92.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $51.69 | $103.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.30 | $118.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.6 | 0 | $28.20 | $12.89 |
| Efficient EV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.50 | $10.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.4 | 1 | $37.60 | $17.19 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 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
Bristol, WI
Afternoon in Bristol on Saturday
Local time
3:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
17 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
5h 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 120.4
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
268.6 mi in 5h 7m, mostly highway — 167.8 mi of that is on I 94.
93% 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: 167.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 53.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 268.6 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 5.4 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 173.9 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.4 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
985 ft
779 ft
Total Climb
353 ft
Total Descent
363 ft
Highest Point
985 ft
~76.7 mi in
Elevation Range
206 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 268.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 167.8 miles on I 94. 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.
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 Bristol, 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 5.4 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 173.9 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.4 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bristol, WI before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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