Origin
River Hills, WI
Morning in River Hills on Saturday
Local time
6:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from River Hills, 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
3h 56m
Distance
255 mi
410 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
River Hills, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from River Hills, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 255 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Spruce Road, West Brown Deer Road, I 94 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.87 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
127.5 miles from River Hills, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 255 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 56m drive with frequent turns across 255 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Spruce Road 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m 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 River Hills, WI to Eau Claire, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Spruce Road | — | — |
| West Brown Deer Road | — | — |
| I 94 East | — | — |
| North-South Freeway | — | — |
| I 94 West | — | — |
| East-West Freeway | — | — |
| I 39 North | — | — |
| US 53 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Spruce Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Hills, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on West Heather Lane
200 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Heather Lane
2
Turn right onto North Spruce Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Spruce Road
3
Turn right onto West Brown Deer Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Brown Deer Road
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Alternate, I 43 South: Milwaukee
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 East Alternate, I 43 South: Milwaukee
5
Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
North-South Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West: Madison
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 West: Madison
7
Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway
16 mi
·
20 min
·
East-West Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway
54 mi
·
57 min
·
East-West Freeway
9
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
10
Keep slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
11
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
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
13
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
14
Merge slight left
1.3 mi
·
1 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 53 Business: Hastings Way
16
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
17
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
18
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Washington Street
19
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
20
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
21
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 127.5 miles from River Hills, WI, or about 1h 58m 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 56 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.5 miles or 1h 58m 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 14m
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 Hills, 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 River Hills, WI
This is one driving day of about 255 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from River Hills, 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 127.5 mi from River Hills, WI · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.5 miles from River Hills, 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
$39.87 one way
$79.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.77 | $87.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $49.07 | $98.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.30 | $112.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.5 | 0 | $26.78 | $12.24 |
| Efficient EV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.31 | $10.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102 | 1 | $35.70 | $16.32 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
Morning in Eau Claire on Saturday
Local time
6:53 AM
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
19 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 56m 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 Hills, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 255 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Spruce Road, West Brown Deer Road, I 94 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127.5 miles from River Hills, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.87 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 56m 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 River Hills, WI to Eau Claire, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from River Hills, WI to Eau Claire, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Eau Claire, WI
More from River Hills, WI
More trips to Eau Claire, WI
Explore more options from River Hills, WI or browse trips ending in Eau Claire, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.