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

The driving distance from Prairie du Chien, WI to Eau Claire, WI is about 144.3 miles (232.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 122.8 miles (197.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 40m 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
144.29 mi
02h 50m
Flight
122.88 mi
197.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Prairie du Chien.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
122.88 mi
Kilometers
197.75 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
144.29 mi
Kilometers
232.22 km
Drive Time
02h 50m

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 02h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Eau Claire
Wed, Apr 22, 11:19 PM CDT
Return by in Prairie du Chien
Thu, Apr 23, 2:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Prairie du Chien
2026-04-22T20:29
Arrive Eau Claire
Wed, Apr 22, 11:19 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:50 AM to 12:50 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:50 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Prairie du Chien
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
Sparta
WI

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

From Prairie du Chien
77.1 mi
01h 25m
To Eau Claire
67.2 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SE
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Marquette Road

    124 m · 10 sec · South Marquette Road

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward South Marquette Road

    106 m · 9 sec · South Marquette Road

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto South Marquette Road

    141 m · 11 sec · South Marquette Road

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Blackhawk Avenue

    8 m · 1 sec · East Blackhawk Avenue

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto East Blackhawk Avenue

    3164 ft · 54 sec · East Blackhawk Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on State Highway 27

    41.5 mi · 58 min · State Highway 27

  7. 7

    Continue on State Highway 27

    1974 ft · 31 sec · State Highway 27

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward South Main Street

    67 m · 3 sec · South Main Street

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street

    10.2 mi · 18 min · South Main Street

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Main Street

    3209 ft · 50 sec · Main Street

  11. 11

    Continue on State Highway 27

    6.3 mi · 9 min · State Highway 27

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 27

    40 m · 8 sec · State Highway 27

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 27

    14.6 mi · 20 min · State Highway 27

  14. 14

    Continue on South Black River Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Black River Street

  15. 15

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

    27 m · 2 sec · South Black River Street

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto South Black River Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · South Black River Street

  17. 17

    Continue on State Highway 27

    24.6 mi · 34 min · State Highway 27

  18. 18

    Continue on Gebhardt Road

    1811 ft · 51 sec · Gebhardt Road

  19. 19

    Continue on South Roosevelt Road

    896 ft · 28 sec · South Roosevelt Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn sharp left

    1080 ft · 28 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    45.2 mi · 48 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior

    1027 ft · 19 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior

    2757 ft · 36 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 53 Business: Hastings Way

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Hastings Way

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Brackett Avenue

    2261 ft · 59 sec · Brackett Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on Harding Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · Harding Avenue

  29. 29

    Continue on Washington Street

    721 ft · 19 sec · Washington Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto South Farwell Street

    2973 ft · 1 min · South Farwell Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto East Grand Avenue

    11 m · 1 sec · East Grand Avenue

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
2 merges, 12 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 27
87.4 mi · 61%
East Main Street
46.3 mi · 32%
South Main Street
10.3 mi · 7%
South Black River Street
2.61 mi · 2%
US 53 North
1.78 mi · 1%
South Hastings Way
0.81 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

East Main Street

Merge slight left

45.2 mi · 00h 49m

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
02h 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.5 mi
122.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sparta
01h 25m from Prairie du Chien
Leave By
12:50 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Prairie du Chien and Sunny near Eau Claire.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 144.3 miles (232.2 km) and usually takes 02h 50m 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?

Sparta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.1 miles from Prairie du Chien and 67.2 miles from Eau Claire.

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 21.5 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 12:50 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.19 one way or $38.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Prairie du Chien and Eau Claire. Straight-line distance: 122.88 mi (197.75 km).

Prairie du Chien

#1 Prairie du Chien

County seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States

Population1,010
Coordinates43.0516500, -91.1412400
Altitude195
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: South Marquette Road (-91.141125, 43.051676)
End: East Grand Avenue (-91.49848, 44.811339)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 232 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.09 gal
19.27 L · about $19.19
Round trip
$38.39
10.18 gal · 38.54 L
Estimated CO2
45.2 kg one way
Round trip: 90.5 kg / 200 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.19 $38.39
Mid-grade $4.25 $21.65 $43.30
Premium $4.65 $23.69 $47.38
Diesel $5.30 $27.00 $53.99

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 Prairie du Chien and Eau Claire. The current time is 20:29:34.

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.