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

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Mercer, WI is about 174.7 miles (281.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 116.6 miles (187.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 05m 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
174.67 mi
04h 02m
Flight
116.58 mi
187.61 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
116.58 mi
Kilometers
187.61 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.67 mi
Kilometers
281.11 km
Drive Time
04h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mercer
Tue, May 5, 7:32 PM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Tue, May 5, 11:35 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-05-05T15:30
Arrive Mercer
Tue, May 5, 7:32 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:03 AM to 12:03 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
8:54 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
Chelsea
WI

Town in Wisconsin, US

From Eau Claire
87.2 mi
02h 01m
To Mercer
87.4 mi
02h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
47°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Grand Avenue

    11 m · 8 sec · East Grand Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Farwell Street

    2012 ft · 49 sec · South Farwell Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Madison Street

    1102 ft · 31 sec · East Madison Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Germania Street

    884 ft · 23 sec · Germania Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Birch Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Birch Street

  6. 6

    Continue on River Prairie Drive

    1.1 km · 2 min · River Prairie Drive

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1444 ft · 37 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 29 East: Green Bay

    3008 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    54.5 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 29 Business: Spruce Street, Hiline Avenue

    2019 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Hiline Avenue

    1447 ft · 35 sec · Hiline Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on West Spruce Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Spruce Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto North 4th Street

    3180 ft · 2 min · North 4th Street

  15. 15

    Continue on State Highway 13

    11.8 mi · 17 min · State Highway 13

  16. 16

    Continue on South 8th Street

    1.9 mi · 5 min · South 8th Street

  17. 17

    Continue on North 8th Street

    42 m · 4 sec · North 8th Street

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on North 8th Street

    2022 ft · 58 sec · North 8th Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North 8th Street

    38 m · 7 sec · North 8th Street

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto North 8th Street

    1609 ft · 34 sec · North 8th Street

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 13

    39 mi · 53 min · State Highway 13

  22. 22

    Continue on South Lake Avenue

    2.4 mi · 6 min · South Lake Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on State Highway 13

    11.9 mi · 16 min · State Highway 13

  24. 24

    Continue on Flambeau Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · Flambeau Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on State Highway 13

    2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 13

  26. 26

    Continue on 4th Ave S

    114 m · 6 sec · 4th Ave S

  27. 27

    Continue on 4th Avenue South

    1.7 mi · 4 min · 4th Avenue South

  28. 28

    Turn right onto 1st Street South

    1502 ft · 51 sec · 1st Street South

  29. 29

    Continue on Birch Street

    2067 ft · 1 min · Birch Street

  30. 30

    Continue on State Highway 182

    29 mi · 42 min · State Highway 182

  31. 31

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 47

    3.8 mi · 6 min · State Highway 47

  32. 32

    Turn left onto US 51

    3.5 mi · 5 min · US 51

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · US 51

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 13
64.7 mi · 37%
WI 29 East
55 mi · 32%
State Highway 182
29 mi · 17%
River Prairie Drive
5.8 mi · 3%
State Highway 47
3.76 mi · 2%
US 51
3.47 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

WI 29 East

Merge slight left

54.5 mi · 01h 02m

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 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.1 mi
116.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chelsea
02h 01m from Eau Claire
Leave By
8:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Eau Claire and Partly Sunny near Mercer.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 174.7 miles (281.1 km) and usually takes 04h 02m 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?

Chelsea is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.2 miles from Eau Claire and 87.4 miles from Mercer.

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

The direct path is about 116.6 miles (187.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.1 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 8:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.23 one way or $46.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Eau Claire and Partly Sunny near Mercer.

Stop Ideas Near Chelsea

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

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

BUS

Abbotsford-Colby, WI

40 mi away
1210 North Division St.
BUS

Stanley, WI

62 mi away
604 South Broadway Street
BUS

Wausau, Wisconsin

63 mi away
2415 Trailwood Lane
BUS

Wausau, WI

65 mi away
555 Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Mercer. Straight-line distance: 116.58 mi (187.61 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

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

#2 Mercer

Civil town in Iron County, Wisconsin

Population1,387
Coordinates46.1655000, -90.0626600
Altitude488
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Mercer (-90.06266, 46.1655)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 281 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.16 gal
23.33 L · about $23.23
Round trip
$46.46
12.32 gal · 46.66 L
Estimated CO2
54.7 kg one way
Round trip: 109.5 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.23 $46.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.20 $52.40
Premium $4.65 $28.67 $57.34
Diesel $5.30 $32.67 $65.35

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Eau Claire and Mercer. The current time is 15:30:18.

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.