Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Morning in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
7:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Medford, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
78.8 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Medford, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Medford, WI covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on WI 29, State Highway 13, US 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.5 miles on WI 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.32 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.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 78.8 miles, with most of the trip on WI 29 and State Highway 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.5 miles on WI 29.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
WI 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,472 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
765 ft
Total Descent
82 ft
Highest Point
1,472 ft
~78.8 mi in
Elevation Range
683 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 29 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
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 78.8 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 63.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
8.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward WI 29 East: Green Bay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 95A
Toward WI 29 East: Green Bay
6
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward WI 29 Business: Spruce Street, Hiline Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 131
Toward WI 29 Business: Spruce Street, Hiline Av...
4
63.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
WI 29 Business / Hiline Avenue
Turn left onto WI 29 Business / Hiline Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
WI 13 / North 4th Street
Turn left onto WI 13 / North 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WI 29 | 54.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| State Highway 13 | 11.8 mi | 17m |
| US 53 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South 8th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Spruce Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| River Prairie Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 4th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 54.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Medford, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Farwell Street
3
Turn right onto East Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Madison Street
4
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Germania Street
5
Continue on Birch Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Birch Street
6
Continue on River Prairie Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
River Prairie Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 53
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 53
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 95A
Toward WI 29 East: Green Bay
10
Merge onto WI 29
54 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
WI 29
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 131
Toward WI 29 Business: Spruce Street, Hiline Avenue
12
Turn left onto WI 29 Business
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hiline Avenue
13
Continue on WI 29 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Spruce Street
14
Turn left onto WI 13
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on WI 13
12 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 13
16
Continue on WI 13
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South 8th Street
17
Turn left onto South Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Street
18
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
South 4th Street
19
Arrive at destination
South 4th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medford, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Eau Claire, WI
This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Eau Claire, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on WI 29 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.4 mi from Eau Claire, WI · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Eau Claire, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Medford, WI
The final approach into Medford, 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
$12.32 one way
$24.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.53 | $27.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.16 | $30.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.40 | $34.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.03 | $5.04 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Medford, WI
Morning in Medford on Saturday
Local time
7:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 41m 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 Medford, WI covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are WI 29, State Highway 13, 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 39.4 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 $12.32 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 78.8 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 63.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Eau Claire, WI to Medford, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 789 ft to 1,472 ft elevation with about 765 ft of total climbing.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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