Origin
Ladysmith, WI
Morning in Ladysmith on Friday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ladysmith, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
64.1 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ladysmith, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 64.1-mile drive from Ladysmith to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 31 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on State Highway 27 and WI 29 before connecting to US 53 for the final stretch. With an estimated fuel cost of $10, this journey is quite budget-friendly. The route offers a highway-focused experience, ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently within the Midwest region. Given its short distance, you won't need to break it up with an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.1 miles from Ladysmith, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 64.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 89% of your travel occurring on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.2 miles along State Highway 27. While largely on well-maintained highways, the transition between State Highway 27, WI 29, and US 53 means you'll experience slightly different road surfaces and traffic patterns. It's a drive designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 27 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 27 and WI 29. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Worden Avenue West.
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 64.1 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Worden Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Miner Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles (WI 27 / South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Worden Avenue West
Turn left onto Worden Avenue West
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Miner Avenue West
At end of road, turn left onto Miner Avenue West
Navigation decision point
4
23 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
WI 27 / South 3rd Street
Turn left onto WI 27 / South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
39.1 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the ramp toward WI 29 East: Chippewa Falls
Navigation decision point
Toward WI 29 East: Chippewa Falls
7
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 27 | 36.2 mi | 54m |
| WI 29 | 15.2 mi | 16m |
| US 53 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Birch Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West 9th Street South | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Bridge Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| River Prairie Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 27
— 36.2 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ladysmith, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on this road
36 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Worden Avenue West
443 ft
·
34 sec
·
Worden Avenue West
3
At end of road, turn left onto Miner Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Miner Avenue West
4
Turn left onto WI 27
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West 9th Street South
5
Continue on WI 27
21 mi
·
30 min
·
State Highway 27
6
Continue on WI 27; WI 64
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bridge Street
7
Turn left onto WI 27
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
South 3rd Street
8
Continue on WI 27
16 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 27
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward WI 29 East: Chippewa Falls
10
Merge onto WI 29
15 mi
·
16 min
·
WI 29
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
12
Merge onto US 53
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 53
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward River Prairie Drive
14
Keep slight right at fork
207 ft
·
6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto River Prairie Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
River Prairie Drive
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on Birch Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Birch Street
17
Continue on Germania Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Germania Street
18
Continue on East Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Madison Street
19
Turn left onto North Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Farwell Street
20
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 64.1-mile journey, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you best. Since the total duration is just over an hour and a half, you won't need to worry about extensive stops for rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before you depart Ladysmith, as there are no designated stops noted on this route. The longest stretch without a clear break is the 36.2 miles on State Highway 27, so plan accordingly if you anticipate needing a restroom break around that point.
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 32.1 miles from Ladysmith, WI, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.2 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 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.1 miles or 49m 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 17m
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 Ladysmith, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ladysmith, WI
This is one driving day of about 64.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Ladysmith, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 27 for about 36.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.1 mi from Ladysmith, WI · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Ladysmith, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.02 one way
$20.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.00 | $22.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.34 | $24.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.15 | $28.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.97 | $4.10 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Eau Claire, WI
Morning in Eau Claire on Friday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
S 0 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
41°F
Anson, WI
32 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
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
1h 31m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ladysmith, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 64.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 27, WI 29, US 53. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.1 miles from Ladysmith, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.02 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Worden Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Miner Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles (WI 27 / South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Ladysmith, WI to Eau Claire, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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