The drive from Eau Claire, WI to Kimberly, WI covers 187.1 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 10, US 10, I 94 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 92.9 miles on US Highway 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.25 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
93.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 187.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 56m highway drive covering 187.1 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 10 and US 10. The longest continuous stretch is about 92.9 miles on US Highway 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 92.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 10 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 187.1 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 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (US 10; WI 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
22.8 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
6
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Stevens Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Ste...
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 10; WI 66
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66 toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 158
Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, W...
8
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
7
166.7 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|US 10 / US Highway 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 / US Highway 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton
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 Kimberly, WI, road signs point toward Fairchild, Waupaca and Appleton.
Fairchild
22.8 mi in|~28m
Waupaca
115.5 mi in|~2h 29m|via US 10; WI 66
Appleton
115.5 mi in|~2h 29m|via US 10; WI 66
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 10
92.9 mi
1h 59m
US 10
58.7 mi
1h 10m
I 94
16.7 mi
17m
Tri-County Expressway
6.8 mi
7m
South Hastings Way
2.3 mi
2m
West Division Street
2.1 mi
3m
Hastings Way
0.9 mi
1m
10th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 10
— 92.9 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire, WI and Kimberly, WI.
1
Start on East Grand Avenue
35 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·18 sec
7
Turn straight onto US 53 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·Hastings Way
8
Take the ramp onto US 53 Business
2.3 mi·2 min·South Hastings Way
9
Turn straight onto US 53
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 53
Toward US 53 South: Brackett
10
Enter roundabout onto US 53
378 ft·5 sec·US 53
11
Continue on US 53
441 ft·8 sec·US 53
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto I 94
17 mi·17 min·I 94
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 88Toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild
15
Keep slight left at fork
201 ft·6 sec
16
Turn left onto US 10
0.8 mi·1 min·10th Street
17
Continue on US 10
31 mi·41 min·US Highway 10
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 10
2.1 mi·3 min·West Division Street
19
Continue on US 10
21 mi·28 min·US Highway 10
20
Enter roundabout onto US 10
287 ft·16 sec·US Highway 10
21
Continue on US 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US Highway 10
22
Enter roundabout
15 ft·0 sec
23
Continue
399 ft·7 sec
24
Continue on US 10
28 mi·33 min·US Highway 10
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
7.4 mi·8 min·US 10
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Stevens Point
26
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 10; WI 66
Exit 158Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi·1 hr·US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, WaupacaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 10
Toward US 10 East: AppletonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on US 10; WI 441
0.3 mi·19 sec·Tri-County Expressway
30
Continue on US 10; WI 441
0.6 mi·44 sec·Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge
31
Continue on US 10; WI 441
6.5 mi·7 min·Tri-County Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward CTH CE: College AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·12 sec
34
Turn straight onto CTH CE
0.3 mi·27 sec·County Road CE
35
Enter roundabout onto CTH CE
160 ft·2 sec·County Road CE
36
Continue on CTH CE
0.3 mi·27 sec·County Road CE
37
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·24 sec
38
Turn left onto Railroad Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·Railroad Street
39
Enter roundabout onto South Railroad Street
87 ft·5 sec·South Railroad Street
40
Continue on South Railroad Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Railroad Street
41
At end of road, turn right onto West Kimberly Avenue
67 ft·1 sec·West Kimberly Avenue
42
Arrive at destination
West Kimberly Avenue
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 93.6 miles from Eau Claire, WI, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 41 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 2h 4m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kimberly, 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 187.1 miles and 3h 56m.
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.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 10 for about 92.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.6 mi from Eau Claire, WI
· 2h 4m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.1
0
$19.65
$8.98
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.37
$7.48
EV Truck/SUV
74.8
0
$26.19
$11.97
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Morning
in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kimberly, WI
Morning
in Kimberly on Saturday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Whiting, WI
94 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
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
3h 56m 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 Kimberly, WI covers 187.1 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 10, US 10, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.6 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 $29.25 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 187.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (US 10; WI 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Eau Claire, WI and Kimberly, WI, road signs point toward Fairchild, Waupaca and Appleton.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
