How far is Chicago, IL from Eau Claire, WI?
The driving distance from Chicago, IL to Eau Claire, WI is about 321.7 miles (517.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 281.5 miles (453 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 06h 06m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Village in Dane County, Wisconsin
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chicago and Eau Claire.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago and Eau Claire.
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1
Start on the route
943 ft · 1 min
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
947 ft · 26 sec · West Cermak Road
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3
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
737 ft · 17 sec · South Halsted Street
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4
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
881 ft · 23 sec · South Canalport Avenue
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5
Turn left onto South Ruble Street
676 ft · 23 sec · South Ruble Street
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6
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West, I 94 West
1758 ft · 43 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway
1.5 km · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
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8
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
7.9 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Montrose Avenue
1041 ft · 29 sec
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10
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · West Montrose Avenue
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11
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
1.1 mi · 2 min · North Milwaukee Avenue
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12
Turn left onto North Northwest Highway
21 m · 2 sec · North Northwest Highway
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13
Continue on North Northwest Highway
1.6 km · 2 min · North Northwest Highway
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14
Turn slight left onto West Bryn Mawr Avenue
1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bryn Mawr Avenue
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15
Continue on West Higgins Road
3.1 mi · 5 min · West Higgins Road
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16
Take the ramp right toward I 90 Toll West
1334 ft · 33 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
81.6 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward CTH S
1757 ft · 33 sec
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19
Keep slight right
81 m · 7 sec
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20
Turn straight onto Shopiere Road
2 mi · 3 min · Shopiere Road
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21
Turn left onto County Highway J
5.8 mi · 9 min · County Highway J
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22
Turn left onto East Avalon Road
1862 ft · 35 sec · East Avalon Road
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23
Take the ramp slight right
16.9 mi · 18 min
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24
Continue straight
51.8 mi · 55 min
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25
Keep slight left
63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min
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26
Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
76.1 mi · 1 hr 22 min
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27
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
1027 ft · 19 sec
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28
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
2757 ft · 36 sec
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29
Merge slight left
1.3 mi · 1 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way
1.6 mi · 3 min · South Hastings Way
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31
Turn left onto Brackett Avenue
2261 ft · 59 sec · Brackett Avenue
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32
Continue on Harding Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min · Harding Avenue
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33
Continue on Washington Street
721 ft · 19 sec · Washington Street
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34
Turn right onto South Farwell Street
2973 ft · 1 min · South Farwell Street
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35
Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
11 m · 1 sec · East Grand Avenue
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Grand Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chicago and Eau Claire.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
81.6 mi · 01h 28m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Chicago and Mostly Sunny near Eau Claire.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chicago to Eau Claire?
The road trip is about 321.7 miles (517.8 km) and usually takes 06h 06m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
De Forest is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.7 miles from Chicago and 161.1 miles from Eau Claire.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 281.5 miles (453 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.02 one way or $102.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chicago and Mostly Sunny near Eau Claire.
Stop Ideas Near De Forest
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to De Forest.
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison (South), Wisconsin
Columbus
Portage
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chicago and Eau Claire. Straight-line distance: 281.49 mi (453.02 km).
#1 Chicago
The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,677,643 |
| Coordinates | 41.850033, -87.6500523 |
| Altitude | 179 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Eau Claire
The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.
| Population | 67,065 |
| Coordinates | 44.8113500, -91.4984900 |
| Altitude | 240 |
| Country | United States |
End: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 518 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 35m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 00m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.50 | $51.02 | $102.04 |
| Mid-grade | $5.12 | $58.09 | $116.18 |
| Premium | $5.68 | $64.43 | $128.87 |
| Diesel | $6.52 | $74.01 | $148.03 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Illinois · Nov 09, 2026