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

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Monona, WI is about 180.1 miles (289.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 161.9 miles (260.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 41m 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
180.1 mi
03h 20m
Flight
161.86 mi
260.49 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
161.86 mi
Kilometers
260.49 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
180.1 mi
Kilometers
289.85 km
Drive Time
03h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Monona
Thu, Apr 23, 3:32 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Thu, Apr 23, 6:53 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-04-23T00:12
Arrive Monona
Thu, Apr 23, 3:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 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
10:18 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
Camp Douglas
WI

Village in Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Eau Claire
90 mi
01h 40m
To Monona
90.2 mi
01h 40m

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
79°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    167.8 mi · 3 hr

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 39, I 90: Chicago

    554 ft · 7 sec

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 30: Madison

    2838 ft · 35 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    1.4 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 51, I 39 Alternate, I 94 Alternate: Stoughton Road

    1345 ft · 33 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    145 m · 14 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North Stoughton Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · North Stoughton Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Pflaum Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Pflaum Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Nichols Road

    2118 ft · 1 min · Nichols Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Nichols Road

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
169 mi · 94%
North Stoughton Road
3.11 mi · 2%
South Hastings Way
2.33 mi · 1%
WI 30
1.43 mi · 1%
Hastings Way
0.94 mi · 1%
Pflaum Road
0.86 mi
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

168 mi · 03h 00m

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 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.2 mi
161.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Camp Douglas
01h 40m from Eau Claire
Leave By
10:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 180.1 miles (289.9 km) and usually takes 03h 20m 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?

Camp Douglas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90 miles from Eau Claire and 90.2 miles from Monona.

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

The direct path is about 161.9 miles (260.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.2 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 10:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.98 one way or $47.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.5 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 Monona.

Stop Ideas Near Camp Douglas

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

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

RAIL

Tomah

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

Wisconsin Dells

52 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

62 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
BUS

Westfield, WI

63 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Monona. Straight-line distance: 161.86 mi (260.49 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

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

#2 Monona

City in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States of America

Population8,164
Coordinates43.0622200, -89.3340100
Altitude268
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Monona (-89.33401, 43.06222)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 290 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.36 gal
24.06 L · about $23.98
Round trip
$47.97
12.72 gal · 48.12 L
Estimated CO2
56.5 kg one way
Round trip: 113 kg / 249 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.98 $47.97
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.05 $54.10
Premium $4.65 $29.60 $59.20
Diesel $5.30 $33.73 $67.47

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 Monona. The current time is 00:12:00.

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.