How far is Eau Claire, WI from Prairie du Chien, WI?

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Prairie du Chien, WI is about 154.2 miles (248.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 122.8 miles (197.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 54m 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
154.2 mi
03h 27m
Flight
122.88 mi
197.75 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
122.88 mi
Kilometers
197.75 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
154.2 mi
Kilometers
248.16 km
Drive Time
03h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Prairie du Chien
Thu, Apr 23, 1:20 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Thu, Apr 23, 4:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-04-22T21:53
Arrive Prairie du Chien
Thu, Apr 23, 1:20 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:27 AM to 11:27 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
10:06 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
Sparta
WI

City in and county seat of Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States

From Eau Claire
77.1 mi
01h 43m
To Prairie du Chien
77.1 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Eau Claire and Prairie du Chien.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eau Claire and Prairie du Chien.

  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

    44.9 mi · 48 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 54, I 94 Alternate: Wisconsin Rapids, Black River Falls

    947 ft · 23 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    64 m · 5 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto East Main Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · East Main Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Roosevelt Road

    1048 ft · 36 sec · South Roosevelt Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Gebhardt Road

    1806 ft · 51 sec · Gebhardt Road

  19. 19

    Continue on State Highway 27

    24.6 mi · 34 min · State Highway 27

  20. 20

    Continue on Black River Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Black River Street

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Black River Street

    26 m · 1 sec · South Black River Street

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto South Black River Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Black River Street

  23. 23

    Continue on State Highway 27

    14.6 mi · 20 min · State Highway 27

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 27

    39 m · 8 sec · State Highway 27

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 27

    6.3 mi · 9 min · State Highway 27

  26. 26

    Continue on Main Street

    3217 ft · 58 sec · Main Street

  27. 27

    Keep slight left

    122 m · 15 sec

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto North Main Street

    10.2 mi · 18 min · North Main Street

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Highway 27

    6 m · 1 sec · State Highway 27

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 27

    41.9 mi · 59 min · State Highway 27

  31. 31

    Continue on East Blackhawk Avenue

    3149 ft · 53 sec · East Blackhawk Avenue

  32. 32

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward South Marquette Road

    79 m · 6 sec · South Marquette Road

  33. 33

    Exit the roundabout onto South Marquette Road

    16 m · 1 sec · South Marquette Road

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Marquette Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Eau Claire and Prairie du Chien.

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
34 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
1 merges, 13 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 27
87.4 mi · 57%
US 53 South
45.8 mi · 30%
North Main Street
10.2 mi · 7%
South Hastings Way
2.33 mi · 2%
Black River Street
1.48 mi · 1%
South Black River Street
1.13 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

44.9 mi · 00h 48m

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 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.4 mi
122.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sparta
01h 43m from Eau Claire
Leave By
10:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Eau Claire and Sunny near Prairie du Chien.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Eau Claire to Prairie du Chien?

The road trip is about 154.2 miles (248.2 km) and usually takes 03h 27m 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?

Sparta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.1 miles from Eau Claire and 77.1 miles from Prairie du Chien.

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

The direct path is about 122.8 miles (197.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.4 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 10:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.51 one way or $41.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Eau Claire and Sunny near Prairie du Chien.

Stop Ideas Near Sparta

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

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

RAIL

Tomah

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

La Crosse

37 mi away
St. Andrew and Caledonia Streets
RAIL

Winona station

67 mi away
65 East Mark Street
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

91 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eau Claire and Prairie du Chien. Straight-line distance: 122.88 mi (197.75 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

Population67,065
Coordinates44.8113500, -91.4984900
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Prairie du Chien

#2 Prairie du Chien

County seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States

Population1,010
Coordinates43.0516500, -91.1412400
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Prairie du Chien (-91.14124, 43.05165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 248 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.44 gal
20.6 L · about $20.51
Round trip
$41.03
10.88 gal · 41.2 L
Estimated CO2
48.3 kg one way
Round trip: 96.7 kg / 213 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.51 $41.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.14 $46.27
Premium $4.65 $25.32 $50.64
Diesel $5.30 $28.85 $57.71

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 Prairie du Chien. The current time is 21:53:26.

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.