Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Late night in Eau Claire on Monday
Local time
4:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Hawthorne, WI
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
130.7 mi
210 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eau Claire, WI
Tom Fisk
Hawthorne, WI
Mehmet
Trip Overview
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Hawthorne, WI covers 130.7 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 53, Birch Street, County Road B for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 126.1 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.85 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
65.4 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 31m highway drive covering 130.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and Birch Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 126.1 miles on US 53.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 126.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and Birch Street. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Farwell Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Hawthorne, WI is easy. At 2h 31m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Farwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Farwell Street
Turn left onto South Farwell Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Madison Street
Turn right onto East Madison Street
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 53
Merge onto US 53
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
129.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 126.1 mi | 2h 22m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| County Road B | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| River Prairie Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Farwell Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Madison Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Germania Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Town Hall Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 126.1 mi, about 2h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Hawthorne, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
36 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
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
8
Merge slight left
126 mi
·
2 hr 22 min
9
Take the exit slight left
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
10
Continue on County Road B
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road B
11
Turn left onto Town Hall Road
121 ft
·
6 sec
·
Town Hall Road
12
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.4 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.1 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.4 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hawthorne, 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 130.7 miles and 2h 31m.
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 US 53 for about 126.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.4 mi from Eau Claire, WI · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.4 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 US 53 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.1 miles.
Arriving in Hawthorne, WI
The final approach into Hawthorne, 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 Hawthorne, 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
$19.85 one way
$39.70 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.88 | $43.77 |
| premium | $4.80 | $24.67 | $49.35 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.04 | $58.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.72 | $6.27 |
| Efficient EV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.36 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Hawthorne, WI
Late night in Hawthorne on Monday
Local time
4:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°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
3 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
2h 31m 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 Hawthorne, WI covers 130.7 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 53, Birch Street, County Road B. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.4 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 $19.85 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.
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 Hawthorne, WI is easy. At 2h 31m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Farwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Eau Claire, WI to Hawthorne, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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