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

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Onalaska, WI is about 79 miles (127.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 65.4 miles (105.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
79 mi
01h 55m
Flight
65.36 mi
105.18 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Eau Claire.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
65.36 mi
Kilometers
105.18 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
79 mi
Kilometers
127.14 km
Drive Time
01h 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 01h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Onalaska
Thu, Apr 23, 2:07 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Thu, Apr 23, 4:03 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 Onalaska
Thu, Apr 23, 2:07 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Eau Claire
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Independence
WI

City in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin United States

From Eau Claire
39.5 mi
00h 57m
To Onalaska
39.5 mi
00h 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
75°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 18 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.3 km · 2 min · Hastings Way

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward WI 93: La Crosse

    911 ft · 25 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto State Highway 93

    15 mi · 21 min · State Highway 93

  10. 10

    Continue on Lake Park Drive

    1683 ft · 44 sec · Lake Park Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Main Street North

    1789 ft · 53 sec · Main Street North

  12. 12

    Continue on State Highway 93

    15.3 mi · 21 min · State Highway 93

  13. 13

    Continue on Osseo Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Osseo Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Washington Street

    1211 ft · 41 sec · Washington Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Burrows Road

    1754 ft · 60 sec · Burrows Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Diagonal Street

    720 ft · 19 sec · Diagonal Street

  17. 17

    Continue on State Highway 93

    21.3 mi · 30 min · State Highway 93

  18. 18

    Continue on State Highway 93

    8.2 mi · 11 min · State Highway 93

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    9.1 mi · 11 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 35 South, CTH HD

    2186 ft · 44 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto State Highway 35

    2.2 mi · 4 min · State Highway 35

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Highway 35

    29 m · 6 sec · State Highway 35

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 35

    985 ft · 27 sec · State Highway 35

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 35

    36 m · 7 sec · State Highway 35

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 35

    1.2 km · 1 min · State Highway 35

  26. 26

    Continue on 2nd Avenue North

    1.5 km · 2 min · 2nd Avenue North

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 2nd Avenue North

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
0 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 93
68.8 mi · 87%
State Highway 35
3.1 mi · 4%
Osseo Road
1.52 mi · 2%
2nd Avenue North
0.91 mi · 1%
Hastings Way
0.83 mi · 1%
Harding Avenue
0.73 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 93

Continue on State Highway 93

21.3 mi · 00h 30m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.6 mi
65.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Independence
00h 57m from Eau Claire
Leave By
2:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 79 miles (127.1 km) and usually takes 01h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Independence is a useful midpoint, sitting about 39.5 miles from Eau Claire and 39.5 miles from Onalaska.

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

The direct path is about 65.4 miles (105.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.52 one way or $21.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 24.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Independence

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

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

RAIL

Winona station

39 mi away
65 East Mark Street
BUS

Eau Claire, WI

49 mi away
642 University Drive
BUS

Eau Claire, WI

56 mi away
6251 Traux Lane
BUS

Chippewa Falls, WI

59 mi away
2750 120th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Onalaska. Straight-line distance: 65.36 mi (105.18 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

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

#2 Onalaska

Fourth-class city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin

Population5,766
Coordinates43.8844100, -91.2351400
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Onalaska (-91.23514, 43.88441)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 127 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.79 gal
10.55 L · about $10.52
Round trip
$21.04
5.58 gal · 21.1 L
Estimated CO2
24.8 kg one way
Round trip: 49.6 kg / 109 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.52 $21.04
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.87 $23.73
Premium $4.65 $12.98 $25.97
Diesel $5.30 $14.80 $29.60

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 Onalaska. The current time is 00:12:01.

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.