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

The driving distance from Lincoln, WI to Eau Claire, WI is about 219.2 miles (352.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 189.8 miles (305.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 52m 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
219.23 mi
03h 26m
Flight
189.8 mi
305.45 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lincoln.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
189.8 mi
Kilometers
305.45 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
219.23 mi
Kilometers
352.81 km
Drive Time
03h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Eau Claire
Fri, Apr 17, 6:57 AM CDT
Return by in Lincoln
Fri, Apr 17, 10:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lincoln
2026-04-17T03:30
Arrive Eau Claire
Fri, Apr 17, 6:57 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 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
10:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lincoln
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
Ringle
WI

City in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States of America

From Lincoln
109.4 mi
01h 43m
To Eau Claire
109.8 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
77°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Red River Lincoln T L Road

    26 m · 6 sec · Red River Lincoln T L Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto County Road S

    4.1 mi · 10 min · County Road S

  3. 3

    Continue on County Road S

    2.5 mi · 6 min · County Road S

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road DK

    1.4 km · 2 min · County Road DK

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight

    2030 ft · 54 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto State Highway 57

    13.4 mi · 15 min · State Highway 57

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 43 North: Interstate 41

    1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    4.7 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 41 South: Appleton

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    1.5 km · 59 sec

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 29, WI 32 North: Wausau

    1546 ft · 19 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on WI 29 West, WI 32 North: Wausau

    1.1 km · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    15.7 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    36.3 mi · 42 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    30.4 mi · 35 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls

    90.1 mi · 1 hr 44 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 53 South: Eau Claire

    2138 ft · 46 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward River Prairie Drive

    1265 ft · 31 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    63 m · 7 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto River Prairie Drive

    3015 ft · 1 min · River Prairie Drive

  23. 23

    Continue on Birch Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Birch Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Germania Street

    893 ft · 24 sec · Germania Street

  25. 25

    Continue on East Madison Street

    1086 ft · 37 sec · East Madison Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto North Farwell Street

    2012 ft · 50 sec · North Farwell Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto East Grand Avenue

    11 m · 1 sec · East Grand Avenue

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
28 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
WI 29 West
181 mi · 83%
State Highway 57
13.4 mi · 6%
County Road S
6.64 mi · 3%
US 53 South
6.3 mi · 3%
I 43 North
5.31 mi · 2%
I 41 South
2.07 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

WI 29 West

Take the exit slight right toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls

90.1 mi · 01h 44m

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 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.4 mi
189.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ringle
01h 43m from Lincoln
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lincoln and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Eau Claire.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 219.2 miles (352.8 km) and usually takes 03h 26m 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?

Ringle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.4 miles from Lincoln and 109.8 miles from Eau Claire.

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

The direct path is about 189.8 miles (305.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.4 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 10:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.15 one way or $58.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lincoln and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Eau Claire.

Stop Ideas Near Ringle

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

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

BUS

Wausau, WI

17 mi away
555 Jefferson Street
BUS

Wausau, Wisconsin

20 mi away
2415 Trailwood Lane
BUS

Wittenberg, WI

22 mi away
505 Grand Avenue
BUS

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

42 mi away
200 Division St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lincoln and Eau Claire. Straight-line distance: 189.8 mi (305.45 km).

Lincoln

#1 Lincoln

Town in Vilas County, Wisconin, United States

Population1,521
Coordinates44.6180500, -87.6420400
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Eau Claire

#2 Eau Claire

The most populous city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.

Population67,065
Coordinates44.8113500, -91.4984900
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Start: Red River Lincoln T L Road (-87.642249, 44.618052)
End: East Grand Avenue (-91.49848, 44.811339)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 353 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.73 gal
29.28 L · about $29.15
Round trip
$58.30
15.46 gal · 58.56 L
Estimated CO2
68.7 kg one way
Round trip: 137.4 kg / 303 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.15 $58.30
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.88 $65.75
Premium $4.65 $35.98 $71.95
Diesel $5.30 $41.00 $82.00

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Lincoln and Eau Claire. The current time is 03:30:54.

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.