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

The driving distance from Eau Claire, WI to Princeton, WI is about 155.1 miles (249.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 134.9 miles (217.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 21m 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
155.09 mi
03h 10m
Flight
134.91 mi
217.11 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
134.91 mi
Kilometers
217.11 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
155.09 mi
Kilometers
249.59 km
Drive Time
03h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Princeton
Thu, Apr 23, 6:22 AM CDT
Return by in Eau Claire
Thu, Apr 23, 9:33 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eau Claire
2026-04-23T03:11
Arrive Princeton
Thu, Apr 23, 6:22 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 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
10:38 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
77.4 mi
01h 35m
To Princeton
77.7 mi
01h 35m

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
78°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 Princeton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    99.4 mi · 1 hr 47 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford

    1644 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto State Highway 82

    40 m · 5 sec · State Highway 82

  16. 16

    Continue on State Highway 82

    882 ft · 17 sec · State Highway 82

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 82

    9 m · 1 sec · State Highway 82

  18. 18

    Continue on State Highway 82

    24.6 mi · 37 min · State Highway 82

  19. 19

    Continue on West Ormsby Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Ormsby Street

  20. 20

    Continue on State Highway 82

    3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 82

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 23

    6.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23

  22. 22

    Continue on Underwood Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Underwood Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on West Montello Street

    799 ft · 18 sec · West Montello Street

  24. 24

    Continue on East Montello Street

    2978 ft · 50 sec · East Montello Street

  25. 25

    Continue on State Highway 23

    9.9 mi · 15 min · State Highway 23

  26. 26

    Continue on South 2nd Street

    2665 ft · 49 sec · South 2nd Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
100 mi · 65%
State Highway 82
28.3 mi · 18%
State Highway 23
16 mi · 10%
South Hastings Way
2.33 mi · 1%
Underwood Avenue
1.84 mi · 1%
West Ormsby Street
1.14 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

99.4 mi · 01h 47m

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 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.2 mi
134.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tomah
01h 35m from Eau Claire
Leave By
10:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 155.1 miles (249.6 km) and usually takes 03h 10m 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 77.4 miles from Eau Claire and 77.7 miles from Princeton.

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

The direct path is about 134.9 miles (217.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.2 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 10:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.63 one way or $41.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.6 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 Princeton.

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 Princeton. Straight-line distance: 134.91 mi (217.11 km).

Eau Claire

#1 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

Population67,065
Coordinates44.8113500, -91.4984900
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Princeton

Civil town in Green Lake County, Wisconsin

Population1,440
Coordinates43.8508100, -89.1217800
Altitude238
CountryUnited States
Start: Eau Claire (-91.49849, 44.81135)
End: Princeton (-89.12178, 43.85081)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 250 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.47 gal
20.72 L · about $20.63
Round trip
$41.25
10.94 gal · 41.44 L
Estimated CO2
48.6 kg one way
Round trip: 97.2 kg / 214 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.63 $41.25
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.26 $46.53
Premium $4.65 $25.46 $50.91
Diesel $5.30 $29.01 $58.03

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 Princeton. The current time is 03:11:49.

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.