How far is Eau Claire, WI from Alto, WI?

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Alto, WI is about 189.3 miles (304.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 155.1 miles (249.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
189.29 mi
03h 49m
Flight
155.07 mi
249.56 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Eau Claire.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
155.07 mi
Kilometers
249.56 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
189.29 mi
Kilometers
304.63 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 03h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alto
Thu, Apr 16, 12:17 PM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Thu, Apr 16, 4:07 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-04-16T08:27
Arrive Alto
Thu, Apr 16, 12:17 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Eau Claire
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Lone Rock
WI

Village in Richland County, Wisconsin

From Eau Claire
94.5 mi
01h 54m
To Alto
94.8 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph ESE
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Eau Claire and Alto.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire and Alto.

  1. 1

    Start on East Grand Avenue

    11 m · 5 sec · East Grand Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Farwell Street

    2973 ft · 1 min · South Farwell Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    721 ft · 14 sec · Washington Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Harding Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · Harding Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Brackett Avenue

    1818 ft · 38 sec · Brackett Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn slight right

    157 m · 19 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Hastings Way

    1.5 km · 2 min · Hastings Way

  8. 8

    Take the ramp straight toward South Hastings Way

    2.3 mi · 3 min · South Hastings Way

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto US 53 South: Brackett

    1257 ft · 21 sec

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward the route

    115 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout

    135 m · 9 sec

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right

    2643 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    136.4 mi · 2 hr 26 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo

    926 ft · 32 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    53 m · 4 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight

    33.4 mi · 49 min

  17. 17

    Continue on State Highway 68

    8.3 mi · 12 min · State Highway 68

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Verhage Road

    2493 ft · 2 min · Verhage Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto State Highway 49

    2.4 mi · 4 min · State Highway 49

  20. 20

    Turn left onto County Road E

    1.6 km · 2 min · County Road E

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road EE

    1 mi · 2 min · County Road EE

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road AS

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Eau Claire and Alto.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
137 mi · 73%
State Highway 68
8.29 mi · 4%
State Highway 49
2.4 mi · 1%
South Hastings Way
2.33 mi · 1%
County Road EE
1.02 mi · 1%
County Road E
1 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

136 mi · 02h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.2 mi
155.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lone Rock
01h 54m from Eau Claire
Leave By
9:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Eau Claire and Chance Rain Showers near Alto.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Eau Claire to Alto?

The road trip is about 189.3 miles (304.6 km) and usually takes 03h 49m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lone Rock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 94.5 miles from Eau Claire and 94.8 miles from Alto.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 155.1 miles (249.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.2 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.19 one way or $50.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Eau Claire and Chance Rain Showers near Alto.

Stop Ideas Near Lone Rock

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lone Rock, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lone Rock.

RAIL

Tomah

24 mi away
North Superior Ave. and Washington St.
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

50 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

58 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
BUS

Westfield, WI

59 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Alto. Straight-line distance: 155.07 mi (249.56 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

Population67,065
Coordinates44.8113500, -91.4984900
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Alto

#2 Alto

Civil town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin

Population1,063
Coordinates43.6766500, -88.7951100
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Alto (-88.79511, 43.67665)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 305 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.68 gal
25.28 L · about $25.19
Round trip
$50.38
13.36 gal · 50.56 L
Estimated CO2
59.4 kg one way
Round trip: 118.7 kg / 262 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.19 $50.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.41 $56.82
Premium $4.65 $31.09 $62.18
Diesel $5.30 $35.43 $70.86

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 Wisconsin · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Eau Claire and Alto. The current time is 08:27:44.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.