Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Afternoon in Eau Claire on Thursday
Local time
2:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 43m
Distance
186.3 mi
300 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 31m
★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 9m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI covers 186.3 miles and takes about 3h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Farwell Street, Washington Street, Harding Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
93.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 43m. Total distance: 186.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 43m drive with frequent turns across 186.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Farwell Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI is easy. At 3h 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Farwell Street | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
| Harding Avenue | — | — |
| Brackett Avenue | — | — |
| Hastings Way | — | — |
| South Hastings Way | — | — |
| US 53 South | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Farwell Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Lowell, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
36 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
·
19 sec
7
Turn straight onto Hastings Way
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hastings Way
8
Take the ramp straight toward South Hastings Way
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Hastings Way
9
Turn straight onto US 53 South: Brackett
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 53 South: Brackett
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward the route
377 ft
·
6 sec
·
the route
11
Exit the roundabout
443 ft
·
9 sec
12
Take the ramp right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
13
Merge slight left
136 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
15
Keep slight right
174 ft
·
4 sec
16
Turn straight
4.0 mi
·
5 min
17
Turn right onto West Wisconsin Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Wisconsin Street
18
Continue on US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
19
Turn left onto State Highway 16
23 mi
·
31 min
·
State Highway 16
20
Continue on James Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
James Street
21
Continue on Manning Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Manning Street
22
Continue on Highway 16 & 60
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 16 & 60
23
Turn left onto South Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Street
24
Turn right onto Beaver Dam Road
440 ft
·
17 sec
·
Beaver Dam Road
25
Continue on Beaver Dam Road
312 ft
·
9 sec
·
Beaver Dam Road
26
Arrive at your destination
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 93.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.1 miles or 1h 51m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowell, 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 186.3 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.1 mi from Eau Claire, WI · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lowell, WI
The final approach into Lowell, 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 Lowell, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.13 one way
$58.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $31.98 | $63.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.85 | $71.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.13 | $82.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.9 | 0 | $19.56 | $8.94 |
| Efficient EV | 46.6 | 0 | $16.30 | $7.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.5 | 0 | $26.08 | $11.92 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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
Lowell, WI
Afternoon in Lowell on Thursday
Local time
2:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Adams, WI
93 mi in
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
22 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
3h 43m 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 Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI covers 186.3 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Farwell Street, Washington Street, Harding Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.1 miles from Eau Claire, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI is easy. At 3h 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Eau Claire, WI to Lowell, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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