How far is Eau Claire, WI from Elkhart Lake, WI?

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Elkhart Lake, WI is about 232.9 miles (374.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 184.8 miles (297.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 24m 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
232.86 mi
04h 42m
Flight
184.83 mi
297.45 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
184.83 mi
Kilometers
297.45 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
232.86 mi
Kilometers
374.76 km
Drive Time
04h 42m

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 04h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elkhart Lake
Tue, May 26, 9:40 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Tue, May 26, 2:22 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-05-26T04:57
Arrive Elkhart Lake
Tue, May 26, 9:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:42 AM to 12:42 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:36 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
Lyndon Station
WI

Village in Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Eau Claire
116.3 mi
02h 21m
To Elkhart Lake
116.6 mi
02h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SSW
Destination
87°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire and Elkhart Lake.

  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 · 50 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East State Street

    1419 ft · 35 sec · East State Street

  18. 18

    Continue on County Road A

    1108 ft · 23 sec · County Road A

  19. 19

    Turn left onto County Road C

    6 mi · 8 min · County Road C

  20. 20

    Take the ramp right toward US 151 South: Sun Prairie

    30 m · 5 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    41 m · 2 sec

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight left toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac

    100 m · 17 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left

    26.4 mi · 31 min

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Rienzi Road

    137 m · 13 sec · Rienzi Road

  25. 25

    Turn left onto County Road K

    1.5 mi · 3 min · County Road K

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    65 m · 4 sec

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout

    656 ft · 18 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto East Johnson Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East Johnson Street

  29. 29

    Continue on State Highway 23

    15.2 mi · 18 min · State Highway 23

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight left

    582 ft · 16 sec

  31. 31

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 4 min

  32. 32

    Turn left onto County Road A/P

    1.3 mi · 3 min · County Road A/P

  33. 33

    Continue on County Road P

    1.3 mi · 2 min · County Road P

  34. 34

    Turn right onto County Road JP

    1.4 km · 2 min · County Road JP

  35. 35

    Continue on Gottfried Street

    1251 ft · 47 sec · Gottfried Street

  36. 36

    Turn sharp left onto Arno Way

    29 m · 4 sec · Arno Way

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Arno Way

Car Route Details

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

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
37 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
137 mi · 59%
State Highway 23
17.5 mi · 8%
County Road C
6 mi · 3%
South Hastings Way
2.33 mi · 1%
County Road K
1.65 mi · 1%
County Road P
1.31 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
04h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.1 mi
184.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lyndon Station
02h 21m from Eau Claire
Leave By
7:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Eau Claire and Sunny near Elkhart Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Eau Claire to Elkhart Lake?

The road trip is about 232.9 miles (374.8 km) and usually takes 04h 42m 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?

Lyndon Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 116.3 miles from Eau Claire and 116.6 miles from Elkhart Lake.

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

The direct path is about 184.8 miles (297.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.1 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 7:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.00 one way or $62.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Eau Claire and Sunny near Elkhart Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Lyndon Station

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

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

RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

14 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
RAIL

Portage

39 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
BUS

Westfield, WI

39 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Tomah

57 mi away
North Superior Ave. and Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Elkhart Lake. Straight-line distance: 184.83 mi (297.45 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

Population67,065
Coordinates44.8113500, -91.4984900
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Elkhart Lake

#2 Elkhart Lake

Village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin

Population1,013
Coordinates43.8333300, -88.0178700
Altitude289
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Elkhart Lake (-88.01787, 43.83333)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 375 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.22 gal
31.11 L · about $31.00
Round trip
$62.00
16.44 gal · 62.22 L
Estimated CO2
73.1 kg one way
Round trip: 146.1 kg / 322 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.00 $62.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $34.96 $69.92
Premium $4.65 $38.26 $76.51
Diesel $5.30 $43.60 $87.20

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 · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Eau Claire and Elkhart Lake. The current time is 04:57:59.

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.