Overview
Eau Claire (pronounced: O'Clare, French for clear water) is a city of about 62,000 in Northwest Wisconsin.
9 sights · 38 things to do · 26 places to eat · 8 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Eau Claire
Chippewa Valley Museum
Award-winning exhibits, beautifully preserved historic structures on the grounds, fun activities, a working turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor, and more.
Schlegelmilch-McDaniel House
Idea Gardens
Presented by Eau Claire Master Gardeners and UW-Extension.
Paul Bunyan Logging Camp
A museum.
Waldemer Ager house
Chippewa Moraine Interpretive Center
Glacial history - exhibits, videos, live and stuffed animals.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 9°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Saint Paul)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- EAU Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, Eau Claire — 3 mi away. Directions
- LSE La Crosse Regional Airport, La Crosse — 66 mi away. Directions
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 84 mi away (major hub). Directions
Eau Claire is on Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 53 and is 90 miles (145 km) east of the Twin Cities.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $11 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Downtown, Upper Campus Area, Other, Bed & Breakfast in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Schlegelmilch-McDaniel House, Chaos Water Park, Chippewa Valley Museum
- Lunch Ray's Place
- Afternoon Crystal Cave, Micon Cinemas
- Dinner Acoustic Cafe
- Evening The Mousetrap
Day 2
- Morning Idea Gardens, Waldemer Ager house, National Eagle Center
- Lunch Dessert First
- Afternoon Action City, Micon Cinemas Oakwood
- Dinner Grand Avenue Cafe
- Evening Clancy's Irish Pub
Day 3
- Morning Paul Bunyan Logging Camp, Chippewa Moraine Interpretive Center, Leinenkugel Brewery
- Lunch Houligans
- Afternoon Cameo Budget, L.E. Phillips Planetarium
- Dinner Northwoods Brewpub
- Evening Dooley's Irish Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Eau Claire has its share of the usual chains. For more unique dining try:
For restaurants near Eau Claire click here.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By bus
Go Greyhound
Eau Claire is served by Greyhound services from Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Chicago. The bus "terminal" is inside a McDonald's restaurant at the far northwestern outskirts of town, so you will need to hire a taxi from there to your accommodations unless you feel like walking 7 miles to downtown.
By car
Eau Claire is on Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 53 and is 90 miles (145 km) east of the Twin Cities.
By plane
Go Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU)
Public airport on the north side of town. Most U.S. destinations are available within 2-3 hours of transfer. Daily service is available to Chicago O'Hare on United Express. Beginning on December 1, 2022, United's service will be replaced by Sun Country flights to Minneapolis, and seasonal flights to Fort Myers and Orlando.
Alternatively, you can fly into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and take the shuttle service to Eau Claire:
Get around
Like most U.S. cities of its size, all Eau Claire offers by the way of mass transit is a relatively anemic municipal bus system. The buses have bike racks.
The downtown and Water Street areas, and most of the University academic buildings, are located within a river valley. Other parts of the town are located on higher ground. Walking and biking is an option in and between downtown, Water Street, and the University lower campus. However, for most folks (particularly in the winter) travel to other parts of the city will be by auto, taxi, or bus.
See
Nearby towns
Do
For a fairly complete listing of current events, pick up a copy of Volume One, a free magazine available at more than 200 locations throughout the area. Another listing can be found in the Thursday edition of the local Eau Claire Leader-Telegram newspaper.
General
- Cinema
*
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The arts
Younger children
- See also the Fairfax Pool listing in the "Recreation" section below, and the Crystal Cave and Wise Nature Center listings in the Northwest Wisconsin article.
Festivals and events
These listings are presented in chronological order.
Do Summerfest
Celebration of the 1950s and 60s featuring food, live music, chalk art, and classic cars. Fourth Saturday in July.
Nearby festivals
Do Chippewa Valley Renaissance Faire
Jousting, juggling, comedy, minstrels, magic, stage shows and more! You’ll find gourmet delights and entertainment fit for a king! Our artisan village is filled with merchants offering pottery, stained glass, jewelry, costumes & finery and other handmade wares. Plenty of fun for the wee ones too!
Recreation
Do City Parks
Eau Claire has many city parks. Carson Park is in the center on the city, surrounded by an oxbow lake. Home to Eau Claire baseball and football teams, Chippewa Valley Museum, Chippewa Valley Railroad, and Paul Bunyan Camp. Phoenix Park is the newest park at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. It is home to the Eau Claire Downtown Farmer's Market and features free concerts on Thursday evenings in the summer. Other city parks include Mount Simon, Rod & Gun, Boyd, Owen, and Riverview.
Do Bowling
Two public bowling alleys: Wagner's (South Hastings Way, East side) and Bowlwinkles (North Clairemont Ave, West Side).
Do Disc golf
Three courses, one in town at Mount Simon City Park, another just a few miles east of Eau Claire at the Tower Ridge Recreation Area, and the final located in North Star Middle School.
Do Fairfax Pool
The facility includes a main pool with zero depth entry and an Olympic size, eight lane, 50 meter swimming area. A stationary waterslide, 22 feet high with a flume extending 150 feet, is one of the main attractions of the pool. The pool also features a "Raindrop" in the zero depth area of the pool. A separate diving well includes both a one meter and a three meter diving board. Also located on the grounds are a sand volleyball court, a concession stand, and a covered pavilion.
Do Riverside Bike & Skate
Offers rental bicycles, canoes, kayaks, rollerblades, child trailers, and ice skates. It also offers one to four hour canoe and kayak trips on the Eau Claire or Chippewa Rivers.
Sports
Buy
Farmers' markets
Eat
Eau Claire has its share of the usual chains. For more unique dining try:
Downtown
Eat Ray's Place
Hot beefs and hot ham sandwiches, and Ray's hot horseradish mustard.
Eat Acoustic Cafe
Coffee house and sandwich shop.
Eat Dessert First
Bakery and cafe.
Eat Grand Avenue Cafe
Coffee house and cafe. Sidewalk seating available.
Eat Houligans
Steak and seafood. Upscale casual.
Oakwood Mall Area
Eat Northwoods Brewpub
Eau Claire's only brewpub. 10 beers and seasonal brews crafted on the premises. Norske Nook food and pies.
Upper Campus Area
Eat Shanghai Bistro
Chinese and Japanese (sushi and sashimi.)
Water Street
Eat Mona Lisa's
Upscale casual contemporary Italian and Mediterranean
Eat The Nucleus
Casual. Serving breakfast (until closing on weekends) and lunch. Unique variety of sweet and savory breakfasts, including daily varieties of quiche.
Other
Eat Draganetti's Ristorante
Italian cuisine. Patio seating available.
Eat Olympic Flame
Gyros and a few other Greek specialties. A long time Eau Claire favorite.
Eat Tokyo
Japanese. Dinner is grilled at the table. Lunch is table service from the kitchen.
Nearby restaurants
For restaurants near Eau Claire click here.
Coffee houses
Eat The Coffee Grounds
Coffee roasted on the premises. Sandwiches. Also sell bulk coffee, craft beers, wine, fine spirits, teas, chocolate, gourmet foods. Walk-in cigar humidor. Outdoor seating available.
Eat The Goat Coffee House
Sidewalk seating available.
Eat The Living Room Coffee House & Drive Thru
Eat Racy D'Lene's Very Coffee House
Behind the Nucleus Cafe (connected), faces the Chippewa River and bike trail. Outdoor bench seating available.
Eat Seattle Pride
Locally owned. Drive up window.
Eat Starbuck's
Drive up at Hastings Way and Clairemont Ave locations
Drink
Downtown
Water Street
The primary bar scene in Eau Claire is on Water Street, near the University lower campus. There are 10-15 bars within a few blocks. Highlights include:
- Stella's Red Room near downtown
Drink Dooley's Irish Pub
Food available. Private room available.
Drink Mogie's Pub
Burgers and Chicken Wings, and other food available.
Sleep
Downtown
Upper Campus Area
Stay Days Inn
Other
Stay Econo Lodge
Bed & Breakfast
Go next
- Augusta, Wisconsin.
- Altoona, Wisconsin.
- Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is about 12 miles (19 km) to the north.
- Menomonie, Wisconsin, is about 24 miles (38 km) to the west.
- The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota are about 90 miles (145 km) to the west.
Nearby
Altoona
City / town · 22 listings · 3 mi away
Chippewa Falls
City / town · 12 listings · 10 mi away
Augusta
City / town · 1 listings · 21 mi away
Menomonie
City / town · 3 listings · 21 mi away
Osseo
City / town · 1 listings · 22 mi away
Spring Valley
City / town · 4 listings · 36 mi away
Wabasha
City / town · 4 listings · 40 mi away
Pepin
City / town · 41 mi away
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