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

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Lake Wisconsin, WI is about 161 miles (259.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 137.8 miles (221.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 09m 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
160.99 mi
03h 04m
Flight
137.73 mi
221.66 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
137.73 mi
Kilometers
221.66 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
160.99 mi
Kilometers
259.09 km
Drive Time
03h 04m

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 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Wisconsin
Sun, Apr 19, 4:45 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Sun, Apr 19, 7:50 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-04-19T01:41
Arrive Lake Wisconsin
Sun, Apr 19, 4:45 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 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
10:50 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
Tomah
WI

City in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States

From Eau Claire
80.4 mi
01h 32m
To Lake Wisconsin
80.6 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
48°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    145.9 mi · 2 hr 36 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward CTH CS: Poynette, Lake Wisconsin

    884 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    51 m · 9 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto County Hwys J & CS

    1.4 km · 2 min · County Hwys J & CS

  17. 17

    Turn left onto County Highway J

    2.2 mi · 3 min · County Highway J

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Hwys J & V

    1.1 mi · 1 min · County Hwys J & V

  19. 19

    Turn right onto County Highway V

    3.5 mi · 6 min · County Highway V

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Summerville Park Road

    1.2 mi · 5 min · Summerville Park Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Summerville Park Road

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
147 mi · 91%
County Highway V
3.51 mi · 2%
South Hastings Way
2.33 mi · 1%
County Highway J
2.21 mi · 1%
Summerville Park Road
1.21 mi · 1%
County Hwys J & V
1.08 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

146 mi · 02h 36m

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 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.2 mi
137.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tomah
01h 32m from Eau Claire
Leave By
10:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Eau Claire and Mostly Sunny near Lake Wisconsin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 161 miles (259.1 km) and usually takes 03h 04m 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?

Tomah is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80.4 miles from Eau Claire and 80.6 miles from Lake Wisconsin.

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

The direct path is about 137.8 miles (221.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.2 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 10:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.42 one way or $42.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Tomah

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

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

RAIL

Tomah

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

La Crosse

62 mi away
St. Andrew and Caledonia Streets
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

69 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

70 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Lake Wisconsin. Straight-line distance: 137.73 mi (221.66 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

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

#2 Lake Wisconsin

Census designated place in Columbia and Sauk counties in Wisconsin, United States

Population4,189
Coordinates43.3736000, -89.5756800
Altitude247
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Lake Wisconsin (-89.57568, 43.3736)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 259 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.68 gal
21.5 L · about $21.42
Round trip
$42.84
11.36 gal · 43 L
Estimated CO2
50.5 kg one way
Round trip: 101 kg / 223 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.42 $42.84
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.16 $48.31
Premium $4.65 $26.43 $52.87
Diesel $5.30 $30.13 $60.25

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Eau Claire and Lake Wisconsin. The current time is 01:41:18.

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.