Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Afternoon in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
2:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Oconto, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
206.6 mi
332 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Oconto, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Oconto, WI covers 206.6 miles and takes about 4h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on WI 29, US 41, County Highway S for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 164.1 miles on WI 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.30 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
103.3 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WI 29 | 164.1 mi | 3h 9m |
| US 41 | 14.2 mi | 16m |
| County Highway S | 9.7 mi | 17m |
| US 53 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 160 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 32 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Smith Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 164.1 mi, about 3h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Oconto, 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
88 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
WI 29
11
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 29
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
WI 29
Toward US 51 South: Green Bay, Madison
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 29
72 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
WI 29
Exit 187
Toward WI 29 East: Weston, Green Bay
13
Take the exit onto WI 55
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
WI 55
Toward WI 55, WI 160: Pulaski, Seymour
14
Turn left onto WI 55
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
State Highway 55
15
Continue on WI 160
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 160
16
Continue on WI 160
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pulaski Street
17
Turn left onto WI 32
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Saint Augustine Street
18
Continue on WI 32
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 32
19
Turn right onto CTH S
9.7 mi
·
17 min
·
County Highway S
20
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
21
Merge onto US 41; US 141
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 41; US 141
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 41
Toward US 41, LMCT: Oconto, Marinette
23
Take the exit onto US 41 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 41 Business
Exit 197
Toward US 41 Business: Oconto
24
Continue on US 41 BUS
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Smith Avenue
Exit 197
Toward US 41 Business: Oconto
25
Continue on US 41 BUS
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Brazeau Avenue
26
Turn right onto Chicago Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Chicago Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto CTH Y
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
28
Turn left onto CTH S
89 ft
·
3 sec
·
Park Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
CTH S
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 103.3 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.1 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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.3 miles or 2h 2m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oconto, 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 206.6 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 WI 29 for about 164.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.3 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 WI 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 164.1 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 3 and 193.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
96.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
WI 29
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 29 toward US 51 South: Green Bay, Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 51 South: Green Bay, Madison
7
101.1 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
WI 29
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 29 toward WI 29 East: Weston, Green Bay
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 187
Toward WI 29 East: Weston, Green Bay
6
193.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
|
US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41 toward US 41, LMCT: Oconto, Marinette
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 41, LMCT: Oconto, Marinette
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.30 one way
$64.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.46 | $70.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.76 | $79.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.61 | $91.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62 | 0 | $21.69 | $9.92 |
| Efficient EV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.08 | $8.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.92 | $13.22 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Oconto, WI
Afternoon in Oconto on Saturday
Local time
2:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Marathon, WI
103 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
1 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
4h 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
206.6 mi in 4h 13m, mostly highway — 164.1 mi of that is on WI 29.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.1 mi on WI 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 29 and US 41. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 206.6 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 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.6 miles (WI 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Eau Claire, WI and Oconto, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Green Bay, Seymour, Lmct: Oconto and Marinette.
Madison
96.6 mi in
|
~1h 53m
|
via WI 29
Green Bay
101.1 mi in
|
~2h
|
via WI 29
Seymour
173 mi in
|
~3h 23m
|
via WI 55
Lmct: Oconto
193.8 mi in
|
~3h 56m
|
via US 41
Marinette
193.8 mi in
|
~3h 56m
|
via US 41
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 206.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 164.1 miles on WI 29. 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 Oconto, 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 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.6 miles (WI 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Oconto, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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