Origin
Rochester, WI
Morning in Rochester on Saturday
Local time
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester, 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
4h 1m
Distance
246.2 mi
396 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 49m
★
6 AM
4h 2m
8 AM
4h 27m
10 AM
4h 11m
12 PM
4h 8m
3 PM
4h 12m
5 PM
4h 26m
8 PM
3h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, WI
Tom Fisk
Eau Claire, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rochester, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 246.2 miles and takes about 4h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Front Street, North Browns Lake Drive, South Jefferson Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.1 miles from Rochester, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 246.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m 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 4h 1m drive with frequent turns across 246.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Front Street 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 4h 1m 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 Rochester, WI to Eau Claire, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Front Street | — | — |
| North Browns Lake Drive | — | — |
| South Jefferson Street | — | — |
| Ela Avenue | — | — |
| Buena Park Road | — | — |
| High Drive | — | — |
| Northwest Highway | — | — |
| Highway 83 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Front Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, WI and Eau Claire, WI.
1
Start on West Main Street
279 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Front Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Front Street
3
Continue on North Browns Lake Drive
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Browns Lake Drive
4
Continue on South Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
5
Turn left onto Ela Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Ela Avenue
6
Continue on Buena Park Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Buena Park Road
7
Turn left onto High Drive
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
High Drive
8
Turn straight onto Northwest Highway
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Northwest Highway
9
Continue on State Highway 83
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 83
10
Continue on South Rochester Street
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
South Rochester Street
11
Continue on State Highway 83
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 83
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83
98 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 83
13
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 83
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83
102 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 83
15
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 83
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83
128 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 83
17
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 83
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83
135 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 83
19
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Highway 83
20
Continue on South Wales Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wales Road
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward West Summit Avenue
177 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Summit Avenue
22
Exit the roundabout onto West Summit Avenue
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West Summit Avenue
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Summit Avenue
69 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Summit Avenue
24
Exit the roundabout onto West Summit Avenue
410 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Summit Avenue
25
Continue on US Highway 18
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 18
26
Turn right onto County Highway C
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
County Highway C
27
Take the ramp left toward I 94 West
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 94 West
28
Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway
45 mi
·
47 min
·
East-West Freeway
29
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
30
Keep slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
31
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
32
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
33
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
34
Merge slight left
1.3 mi
·
1 min
35
Take the exit slight right toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 53 Business: Hastings Way
36
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Brackett Avenue
37
Continue on Harding Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harding Avenue
38
Continue on Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Washington Street
39
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farwell Street
40
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
41
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 123.1 miles from Rochester, WI, or about 2h 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 54 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.1 miles or 2h 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 18m
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 Rochester, 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 Rochester, WI
This is one driving day of about 246.2 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Rochester, 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 123.1 mi from Rochester, WI · 2h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.1 miles from Rochester, 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
$38.49 one way
$76.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $42.26 | $84.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $47.38 | $94.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.36 | $108.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.9 | 0 | $25.85 | $11.82 |
| Efficient EV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.54 | $9.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.5 | 1 | $34.47 | $15.76 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Lodi, WI
123 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
17 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
4h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Rochester, WI to Eau Claire, WI covers 246.2 miles and takes about 4h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Front Street, North Browns Lake Drive, South Jefferson Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.1 miles from Rochester, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.49 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 1m 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 Rochester, WI to Eau Claire, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Rochester, 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.
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