Origin
Kimberly, WI
Evening in Kimberly on Thursday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kimberly, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
186.7 mi
301 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kimberly, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kimberly, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 186.7 miles and takes about 3h 55m 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, I 94, Tri-County Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 143.7 miles on US Highway 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.19 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
93.4 miles from Kimberly, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 186.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 55m highway drive covering 186.7 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 10 and I 94. The longest continuous stretch is about 143.7 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 36 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 143.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 10 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 186.7 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (WI 441 / Tri-County Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (US 10 / US Highway 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
WI 441 / Tri-County Expressway
Merge onto WI 441 / Tri-County Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
23.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 10 / US Highway 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 / US Highway 10 toward US 10 West: Stevens Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 10 West: Stevens Point
5
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward I 39 North, US 51 North, US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North, US 10 West
6
181.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 10 | 143.7 mi | 2h 59m |
| I 94 | 17 mi | 18m |
| Tri-County Expressway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| US 10 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| East Division Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Hastings Way | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 53 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 10
— 143.7 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimberly, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on West Kimberly Avenue
67 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Kimberly Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Railroad Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Railroad Street
3
Enter roundabout onto South Railroad Street
85 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Railroad Street
4
Continue on South Railroad Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Railroad Street
5
Turn straight onto CTH CE
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
County Road CE
6
Enter roundabout onto CTH CE
164 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road CE
7
Continue on CTH CE
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
County Road CE
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on CTH CE
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East College Avenue
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto WI 441
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Tri-County Expressway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on WI 441; US 10
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge
12
Continue on WI 441; US 10
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Tri-County Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Continue on US 10
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 10
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
47 mi
·
54 min
·
US Highway 10
Toward US 10 West: Stevens Point
15
Continue on US 10
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
16
Take the exit onto US 10
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 10
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North, US 10 West
17
Take the exit onto US 10
30 mi
·
35 min
·
US Highway 10
Exit 165
Toward US 10 West: Marshfield
18
Enter roundabout onto US 10
282 ft
·
15 sec
·
US Highway 10
19
Continue on US 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 10
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
US Highway 10
21
Merge onto US 10
21 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 10
22
Continue on US 10
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Division Street
23
Continue on US 10
31 mi
·
41 min
·
US Highway 10
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Continue on US 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
26
Merge onto I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 94
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
29
Merge onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
30
Take the exit onto US 53 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Hastings Way
Toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
31
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
32
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
33
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
34
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
35
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
East Grand 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 93.4 miles from Kimberly, WI, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.7 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 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.4 miles or 1h 51m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eau Claire, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kimberly, 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 Kimberly, WI
This is one driving day of about 186.7 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Kimberly, 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 143.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.4 mi from Kimberly, WI · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.4 miles from Kimberly, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 143.7 miles.
Arriving in Eau Claire, WI
The final approach into Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, 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
$29.19 one way
$58.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.05 | $64.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.93 | $71.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.22 | $82.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56 | 0 | $19.60 | $8.96 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.34 | $7.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.7 | 0 | $26.14 | $11.95 |
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.
Destination
Eau Claire, WI
Evening in Eau Claire on Thursday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 55m 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 Kimberly, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 186.7 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 10, I 94, Tri-County Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.4 miles from Kimberly, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.19 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 20 significant decision points across 186.7 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (WI 441 / Tri-County Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (US 10 / US Highway 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Kimberly, WI to Eau Claire, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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