Origin
Eau Claire, WI
Afternoon in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
3:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eau Claire, WI to Medford, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner 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 mostly highway. 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 .
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.
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.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 64.9 — 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
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.
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
Afternoon in Medford on Saturday
Local time
3:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers
W 14 to 20 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 6:43AM CDT until April 20 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 6:40AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
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
24 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
1h 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
78.8 mi in 1h 41m, mostly highway — 54.5 mi of that is on WI 29.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on WI 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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.
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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on WI 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Medford, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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