Origin
North Hudson, WI
Morning in North Hudson on Saturday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Hudson, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
68.6 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Hudson, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
North Hudson, WI to Eau Claire, WI is 68.6 miles and takes about 1h 23m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, making it a convenient option for a quick trip or a leg of a larger adventure. With a short duration and minimal fuel cost, this route offers a practical way to travel between these two locations without significant time or budget commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 68.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey taking place on major highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 94, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 58.3 miles on this interstate. The drive is characterized by its consistent highway profile, suggesting a steady pace with limited scenic detours. Expect the roads to remain consistent for the majority of the trip, prioritizing efficient travel over varied landscapes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 58.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and North Crossing. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 35 / Sixth Street North.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 68.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 (WI 35 / Sixth Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (I 94; US 12; WI 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WI 35 / Sixth Street North
Turn left onto WI 35 / Sixth Street North
Navigation decision point
8
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WI 35
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35 toward Eau Claire, River Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Eau Claire, River Falls
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 94; US 12; WI 35
Merge onto I 94; US 12; WI 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
60.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 12, WI 312, CTH EE: Eau Claire, Chippawa Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59
Toward US 12, WI 312, CTH EE: Eau Claire, Chipp...
5
67.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
Bellinger Street
Turn right onto Bellinger Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between North Hudson, WI and Eau Claire, WI, road signs point toward Cth Ee: Eau Claire and Chippawa Falls.
Cth Ee: Eau Claire
60.8 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Chippawa Falls
60.8 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 58.3 mi | 1h 2m |
| North Crossing | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Second Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| 3rd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jeffers Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Truax Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Madison Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| WI 35 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 58.3 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Hudson, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on St Croix St North
55 ft
·
7 sec
·
St Croix St North
2
Turn left onto WI 35
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Sixth Street North
3
Continue on WI 35
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Second Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 35
Toward Eau Claire, River Falls
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 94; US 12; WI 35
58 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 94; US 12; WI 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 59
Toward US 12, WI 312, CTH EE: Eau Claire, Chippawa Falls
7
Keep slight right at fork
482 ft
·
11 sec
8
Turn straight onto WI 312; CTH EE
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Crossing
9
Turn right onto CTH F
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jeffers Road
10
Turn left onto Truax Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Truax Boulevard
11
Continue on 3rd Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street
12
Continue on Platt Street
506 ft
·
12 sec
·
Platt Street
13
Turn right onto Bellinger Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bellinger Street
14
Turn left onto West Madison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Madison Street
15
Turn slight right
303 ft
·
8 sec
16
Turn slight left onto North Farwell Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Farwell Street
17
Turn right onto East Grand Avenue
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.3 mi from North Hudson, WI · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from North Hudson, 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
$10.72 one way
$21.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.78 | $23.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.20 | $26.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Eau Claire, WI
Morning in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Partly Cloudy
WNW 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 12:10AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
15 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 23m 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 North Hudson, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 68.6 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, North Crossing, Second Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.3 miles from North Hudson, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.72 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 68.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 (WI 35 / Sixth Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (I 94; US 12; WI 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between North Hudson, WI and Eau Claire, WI, road signs point toward Cth Ee: Eau Claire and Chippawa Falls.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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