Origin
Oak Creek, WI
Afternoon in Oak Creek on Monday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Creek, WI to Eau Claire, WI
Drive Time
3h 53m
Distance
259.8 mi
418 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 41m
★
6 AM
3h 53m
8 AM
4h 19m
10 AM
4h 2m
12 PM
4h 0m
3 PM
4h 4m
5 PM
4h 18m
8 PM
3h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Creek, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Oak Creek, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 259.8 miles and takes about 3h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Howell Avenue, West Drexel Avenue, I 41 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.46 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
129.9 miles from Oak Creek, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 53m drive with frequent turns across 259.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Howell Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Oak Creek, WI to Eau Claire, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Howell Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Drexel Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 41 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North-South Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East-West Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 39 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Howell Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Creek, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on East Puetz Road
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East Puetz Road
2
Turn right onto South Howell Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Howell Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Drexel Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Drexel Avenue
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 41 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 41 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee
5
Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North-South Freeway
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
7
Continue straight
1.1 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Airport Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 94 West: Madison
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
I 94 West: Madison
13
Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
East-West Freeway
14
Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway
54 mi
·
57 min
·
East-West Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
16
Keep slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
19
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
20
Merge slight left
1.3 mi
·
1 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 53 Business: Hastings Way
22
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
23
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
24
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Washington Street
25
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
26
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
27
Arrive at your destination
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 129.9 miles from Oak Creek, WI, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.9 miles or 1h 56m 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 11m
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 Oak Creek, 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 Oak Creek, WI
This is one driving day of about 259.8 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oak Creek, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.9 mi from Oak Creek, WI · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.9 miles from Oak Creek, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Eau Claire, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.46 one way
$78.92 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $43.50 | $87.00 |
| premium | $4.80 | $49.04 | $98.09 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $57.72 | $115.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.28 | $12.47 |
| Efficient EV | 65 | 0 | $22.73 | $10.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.9 | 1 | $36.37 | $16.63 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Eau Claire on Monday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°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
2 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 53m 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 Oak Creek, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 259.8 miles and takes about 3h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Howell Avenue, West Drexel Avenue, I 41 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.9 miles from Oak Creek, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.46 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 straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Oak Creek, WI to Eau Claire, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Oak Creek, WI to Eau Claire, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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