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

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Appleton, WI is about 182.9 miles (294.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.5 miles (251.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 43m 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
182.92 mi
03h 51m
Flight
156.5 mi
251.87 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
156.5 mi
Kilometers
251.87 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
182.92 mi
Kilometers
294.38 km
Drive Time
03h 51m

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 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Appleton
Thu, Apr 23, 4:36 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Thu, Apr 23, 8:28 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-04-23T00:44
Arrive Appleton
Thu, Apr 23, 4:36 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:52 AM to 11:52 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
9:16 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
Sherry
WI

Human settlement in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States of America

From Eau Claire
91.3 mi
01h 55m
To Appleton
91.7 mi
01h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    16.7 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 10: Osseo, Fairchild

    1230 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    61 m · 7 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto 10th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · 10th Street

  17. 17

    Continue on US Highway 10

    30.6 mi · 42 min · US Highway 10

  18. 18

    Continue on West Division Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · West Division Street

  19. 19

    Continue on US Highway 10

    21 mi · 29 min · US Highway 10

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward US Highway 10

    88 m · 16 sec · US Highway 10

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 10

    1.8 mi · 3 min · US Highway 10

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    5 m · 1 sec

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout

    122 m · 8 sec

  24. 24

    Continue on US Highway 10

    28.5 mi · 33 min · US Highway 10

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on I 39 South, US 51 South, US 10 East: Stevens Point

    7.4 mi · 8 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton

    2035 ft · 58 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca

    50.9 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on US Highway 10

    10.9 mi · 13 min · US Highway 10

  29. 29

    Continue on Tri-County Expressway

    1486 ft · 20 sec · Tri-County Expressway

  30. 30

    Continue on Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge

    1 km · 45 sec · Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge

  31. 31

    Continue on Tri-County Expressway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Tri-County Expressway

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 47

    1046 ft · 26 sec

  33. 33

    Keep slight left

    137 m · 11 sec

  34. 34

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Appleton Road

    78 m · 4 sec · Appleton Road

  35. 35

    Exit the roundabout onto Appleton Road

    107 m · 6 sec · Appleton Road

  36. 36

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Appleton Road

    36 m · 2 sec · Appleton Road

  37. 37

    Exit the roundabout onto Appleton Road

    895 ft · 17 sec · Appleton Road

  38. 38

    Continue on South Memorial Drive

    1.9 mi · 3 min · South Memorial Drive

  39. 39

    Turn straight

    82 m · 10 sec

  40. 40

    Turn straight onto West College Avenue

    62 m · 34 sec · West College Avenue

  41. 41

    Continue on West College Avenue

    79 m · 9 sec · West College Avenue

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West College Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
42 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
16
1 merges, 15 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 10
92.9 mi · 51%
US 10 East
51.3 mi · 28%
US 53 South
17.6 mi · 10%
I 39 South
7.39 mi · 4%
South Hastings Way
2.33 mi · 1%
West Division Street
2.15 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 10 East

Keep slight right to continue on US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca

50.9 mi · 01h 01m

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 51m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.4 mi
156.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sherry
01h 55m from Eau Claire
Leave By
9:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Eau Claire and Mostly Sunny near Appleton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 182.9 miles (294.4 km) and usually takes 03h 51m 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?

Sherry is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91.3 miles from Eau Claire and 91.7 miles from Appleton.

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

The direct path is about 156.5 miles (251.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.4 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 9:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.32 one way or $48.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Eau Claire and Mostly Sunny near Appleton.

Stop Ideas Near Sherry

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Sherry, 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 Sherry.

BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

21 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
BUS

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

28 mi away
200 Division St.
BUS

Stevens Point, WI

28 mi away
2050 4th Avenue
BUS

Wausau, Wisconsin

47 mi away
2415 Trailwood Lane

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Appleton. Straight-line distance: 156.5 mi (251.87 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

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

#2 Appleton

City in and county seat of Outagamie County, Wisconsin

Population1,681
Coordinates44.2619300, -88.4153800
Altitude242
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Appleton (-88.41538, 44.26193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 294 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.45 gal
24.43 L · about $24.32
Round trip
$48.65
12.9 gal · 48.86 L
Estimated CO2
57.3 kg one way
Round trip: 114.6 kg / 253 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.32 $48.65
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.43 $54.86
Premium $4.65 $30.02 $60.04
Diesel $5.30 $34.21 $68.42

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Eau Claire and Appleton. The current time is 00:44:49.

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.