Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Delavan Lake, WI

Drive Time

4h 29m

Distance

234.9 mi

378 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 16m ★

6 AM

4h 29m

8 AM

4h 56m

10 AM

4h 39m

12 PM

4h 36m

3 PM

4h 40m

5 PM

4h 55m

8 PM

4h 21m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Eau Claire, WI

Tom Fisk

Delavan Lake, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Delavan Lake, WI covers 234.9 miles and takes about 4h 29m 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, WI 11 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 167.8 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.68 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

117.5 miles from Eau Claire, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 29m highway drive covering 234.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch is about 167.8 miles on I 94.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 167.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 39. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 53.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 29m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.9 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5.4 mi into trip | ~9m in | US 53

Enter roundabout onto US 53

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

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

211.1 mi into trip | ~3h 50m in

Take the exit toward WI 11 East: Delavan

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 175 Toward WI 11 East: Delavan

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	167.8 mi	2h 59m
I 39	37.2 mi	39m
WI 11	11.2 mi	15m
US 14	8.4 mi	13m
South Hastings Way	2.3 mi	2m
East Racine Street	1.6 mi	2m
County Road O	1.4 mi	3m
Hastings Way	0.9 mi	1m

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 Delavan Lake, WI.

Start on East Grand Avenue

35 ft · 5 sec · East Grand Avenue

Turn right onto South Farwell Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Farwell Street

Turn left onto Washington Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Washington Street

Continue on Harding Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Harding Avenue

Continue on Brackett Avenue

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Brackett Avenue

Turn slight right

515 ft · 18 sec

Turn straight onto US 53 Business

0.9 mi · 1 min · Hastings Way

Take the ramp onto US 53 Business

2.3 mi · 2 min · South Hastings Way

Turn straight onto US 53

0.2 mi · 20 sec · US 53

Toward US 53 South: Brackett

Enter roundabout onto US 53

378 ft · 5 sec · US 53

Continue on US 53

441 ft · 8 sec · US 53

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 94

168 mi · 2 hr 59 min · I 94

Use the straight lane.

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 175 Toward WI 11 East: Delavan

Keep slight left at fork

518 ft · 13 sec

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

297 ft · 16 sec · East Racine Street

Continue on WI 11

0.1 mi · 12 sec · East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

112 ft · 6 sec · East Racine Street

Continue on WI 11

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Racine Street

Turn straight onto WI 11

11 mi · 15 min · WI 11

Continue on US 14

8.4 mi · 13 min · US 14

Turn sharp left onto CTH O

1.4 mi · 3 min · County Road O

Turn right onto Town Line Road

0.8 mi · 3 min · Town Line Road

Turn left onto Blue Gill Court

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Blue Gill Court

Turn right onto Wildwood Drive

62 ft · 2 sec · Wildwood Drive

Arrive at destination

Wildwood Drive

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 117.5 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 9m 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 117.5 miles or 2h 9m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Delavan Lake, 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 234.9 miles and 4h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 117.5 mi from Eau Claire, WI · 2h 9m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

117 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 117.5 miles from Eau Claire, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 167.8 miles.

Arriving in Delavan Lake, WI

The final approach into Delavan Lake, 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 Delavan Lake, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.68 one way

$71.36 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$39.33	$78.66
premium	$4.80	$44.34	$88.69
diesel	$5.64	$52.19	$104.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 82.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	70.5	0	$24.66	$11.28
Efficient EV	58.7	0	$20.55	$9.40
EV Truck/SUV	94	1	$32.89	$15.03

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

27 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Eau Claire, WI

Late night in Eau Claire on Monday

Local time

4:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Delavan Lake, WI

Late night in Delavan Lake on Monday

Local time

4:53 AM

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

9 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 29m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Delavan Lake, WI covers 234.9 miles and takes about 4h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, I 39, WI 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 117.5 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 $35.68 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 4h 29m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Eau Claire, WI to Delavan Lake, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Eau Claire, WI

Bohners Lake, WI 256.6 mi · 4h 54m Oostburg, WI 253.1 mi · 5h 2m Spring Prairie, WI 246.6 mi · 4h 36m Milwaukee, WI 246.2 mi · 4h 32m Butler, WI 240.4 mi · 4h 29m Elkhart Lake, WI 232.9 mi · 4h 42m

More trips to Delavan Lake, WI

La Crosse, WI 199.2 mi North La Crosse, WI 196.6 mi Racine, WI 54.8 mi Wauwatosa, WI 53 mi New Berlin, WI 43.6 mi City of Janesville, WI 25.7 mi

Explore more options from Eau Claire, WI or browse trips ending in Delavan Lake, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.

Explore maps for Eau Claire, WI or Delavan Lake, WI on MapSof.net.