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

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Dayton, WI is about 194.2 miles (312.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.1 miles (272.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 51m 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
194.22 mi
03h 55m
Flight
169.09 mi
272.12 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
169.09 mi
Kilometers
272.12 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
194.22 mi
Kilometers
312.56 km
Drive Time
03h 55m

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 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dayton
Thu, Apr 23, 8:11 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Thu, Apr 23, 12:06 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-04-23T04:15
Arrive Dayton
Thu, Apr 23, 8:11 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 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
9:08 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
New Lisbon
WI

City in Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Eau Claire
97.1 mi
01h 57m
To Dayton
97.2 mi
01h 57m

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
78°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    122.5 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton

    1229 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    1194 ft · 29 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    21.8 mi · 28 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Phillips Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Phillips Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    9.2 mi · 13 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    8 mi · 11 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    6.3 mi · 9 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward US 18 West, US 151 South: Midvale Boulevard, Verona Road

    1559 ft · 38 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on US 18 West, US 151 South: Verona Road

    141 m · 13 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on Verona Road

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Verona Road

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward CTH PB

    1009 ft · 34 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    41 m · 5 sec

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Old County Road PB

    758 ft · 22 sec · Old County Road PB

  27. 27

    Continue on County Highway PB

    3.3 mi · 5 min · County Highway PB

  28. 28

    Continue on Dianne Avenue

    996 ft · 30 sec · Dianne Avenue

  29. 29

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 69

    2.5 mi · 4 min · State Highway 69

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Frenchtown Road

    2028 ft · 32 sec · Frenchtown Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Remy Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Remy Road

  32. 32

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road D

    1.2 mi · 2 min · County Road D

  33. 33

    Turn right onto County Highway DD

    3 mi · 6 min · County Highway DD

  34. 34

    At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 92

    1844 ft · 45 sec · State Highway 92

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Dayton Street

    66 m · 10 sec · Dayton Street

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Dayton Street

Car Route Details

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

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
36 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
123 mi · 64%
Phillips Boulevard
24.8 mi · 13%
US 12
22.3 mi · 11%
Verona Road
5.28 mi · 3%
County Highway PB
3.26 mi · 2%
County Highway DD
3.03 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

122 mi · 02h 11m

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 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.1 mi
169.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Lisbon
01h 57m from Eau Claire
Leave By
9:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 194.2 miles (312.6 km) and usually takes 03h 55m 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?

New Lisbon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.1 miles from Eau Claire and 97.2 miles from Dayton.

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

The direct path is about 169.1 miles (272.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.1 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 9:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.83 one way or $51.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near New Lisbon

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

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

RAIL

Tomah

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

Wisconsin Dells

42 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Westfield, WI

55 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

63 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Dayton. Straight-line distance: 169.09 mi (272.12 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

Population67,065
Coordinates44.8113500, -91.4984900
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Dayton

Unincorporated community in Green County, Wisconsin, USA

Population2,681
Coordinates42.8269500, -89.5131800
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Dayton (-89.51318, 42.82695)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 313 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.85 gal
25.94 L · about $25.83
Round trip
$51.66
13.7 gal · 51.88 L
Estimated CO2
60.9 kg one way
Round trip: 121.8 kg / 269 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.83 $51.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.13 $58.27
Premium $4.65 $31.88 $63.76
Diesel $5.30 $36.33 $72.66

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 Dayton. The current time is 04:15:25.

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.