Trip from River Falls, WI to Eau Claire, WI

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 20m

Distance

63.3 mi

102 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min

4 AM

1h 14m ★

6 AM

1h 20m

8 AM

1h 33m

10 AM

1h 25m

12 PM

1h 23m

3 PM

1h 25m

5 PM

1h 32m

8 PM

1h 17m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin, United States

River Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties in Wisconsin, United States, that is the county seat of Eau Claire County

Eau Claire, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting River Falls to Eau Claire, this 63.3-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Western Wisconsin. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 20 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a simple day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $10, it is an affordable excursion for those traveling within the Midwest. The route relies on a combination of I-94, County Highway N, and State Highway 65 to get you to your destination efficiently. Because the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule allows without needing to stress over complex planning or multi-day itineraries.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

31.7 miles from River Falls, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 69% of your time spent cruising on major thoroughfares. You will quickly find yourself settling into a steady rhythm, highlighted by a significant 39-mile stretch along I-94 that serves as the backbone of the trip. While the interstate provides a fast-paced environment, the transition onto State Highway 65 and County Highway N offers a slight change in pace as you navigate toward Eau Claire. The personality of the road is functional and direct, prioritizing efficiency over technical maneuvers. Expect a consistent experience that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary complications or winding detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 22 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 39 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and County Highway N. 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 East Cedar Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.3 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 (East Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (CTH J / County Highway J): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Cedar Street

Turn left onto East Cedar Street

Navigation decision point

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Main Street

Turn right onto North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

5.6 mi into trip | ~9m in | CTH J / County Highway J

Turn right onto CTH J / County Highway J

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

55.5 mi into trip | ~1h 6m 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...

62.2 mi into trip | ~1h 17m 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 River Falls, WI and Eau Claire, WI, road signs point toward Cth Ee: Eau Claire and Chippawa Falls.

Cth Ee: Eau Claire

55.5 mi in | ~1h 6m

Chippawa Falls

55.5 mi in | ~1h 6m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	39 mi	41m
County Highway N	5.5 mi	7m
State Highway 65	4.4 mi	6m
North Crossing	4.2 mi	6m
County Highway J	4 mi	5m
North Main Street	1.2 mi	2m
10th Avenue	1.1 mi	1m
3rd Street	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 39 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between River Falls, WI and Eau Claire, WI.

Start on this road

68 ft · 10 sec · this road

Turn left onto East Cedar Street

171 ft · 8 sec · East Cedar Street

Turn right onto North Main Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on WI 65

4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 65

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto CTH J

4.0 mi · 5 min · County Highway J

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto CTH N

5.5 mi · 7 min · County Highway N

Turn left onto US 63

1.1 mi · 1 min · 10th Avenue

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 34 sec

Merge onto I 94

39 mi · 41 min · I 94

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec

Exit 59 Toward US 12, WI 312, CTH EE: Eau Claire, Chippawa Falls

Keep slight right at fork

482 ft · 11 sec

Turn straight onto WI 312; CTH EE

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Crossing

Turn right onto CTH F

0.6 mi · 1 min · Jeffers Road

Turn left onto Truax Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Truax Boulevard

Continue on 3rd Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · 3rd Street

Continue on Platt Street

506 ft · 12 sec · Platt Street

Turn right onto Bellinger Street

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Bellinger Street

Turn left onto West Madison Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Madison Street

Turn slight right

303 ft · 8 sec

Turn slight left onto North Farwell Street

0.4 mi · 46 sec · North Farwell Street

Turn right onto East Grand Avenue

35 ft · 1 sec · East Grand Avenue

Arrive at destination

East Grand Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 1 hour and 20 minute drive, you have the luxury of choosing your departure time based on personal preference rather than strict logistical constraints. Given the reliance on I-94, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure the smoothest possible experience on that 39-mile interstate segment. Because there are no scheduled stops in this plan, you have the freedom to decide exactly when and where to pull over if you need a quick break or a fuel top-up. Keep your $10 fuel budget in mind as you plan your departure, and remember that the short duration of this trip gives you plenty of time to explore Eau Claire once you arrive.

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 31.7 miles from River Falls, WI, or about 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 31.7 miles or 40m 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 4m

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 River Falls, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from River Falls, WI

This is one driving day of about 63.3 miles and 1h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from River Falls, WI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 39 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.7 mi from River Falls, WI · 40m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glenwood City, WI

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

Roberts, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glenwood City, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from River Falls, 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

$9.90 one way

$19.79 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$10.87	$21.73
premium	$4.89	$12.18	$24.36
diesel	$5.61	$13.98	$27.95

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: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	19	$6.65	$3.04
Efficient EV	15.8	$5.54	$2.53
EV Truck/SUV	25.3	$8.86	$4.05

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

River Falls, WI

Afternoon in River Falls on Wednesday

Local time

4:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Eau Claire, WI

Afternoon in Eau Claire on Wednesday

Local time

4:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 20m 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 River Falls, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 63.3 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, County Highway N, State Highway 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.7 miles from River Falls, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.90 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.