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There are 8 intercity buses per day from Milwaukee to Eau Claire. Traveling by bus from Milwaukee to Eau Claire usually takes around 5 hours and 25 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 20 minutes.
| Distance | 217 mi (349 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 20m |
| Cheapest price | $39.98 |
| Trips per day | 7 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 4 |
Average score for buses from Milwaukee to Eau Claire
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
4.0
Pros: The driver had personality and was very clear about how much time we had for a break at Kwik Trip and which bus to come back to. Also, because there were empty seats, he invited me to sit where I could have 2 seats to myself. Cons: If the driver would stash the luggage him/herself, down below instead of making the passengers do it. Tips: bring snacking food in case you get hungry before the 15 minute break.
Bus tickets for a trip from Milwaukee to Eau Claire cost $43.18 on average. Tickets cheaper than $43.18 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 20 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $20.86 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
There are 4 bus lines from Milwaukee to Eau Claire available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 4 daily trips, FlixBus US usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Thruway | 1 | 6h 40m | $47.00 |
| Badger Bus | 2 | 5h 58m | $67.84 |
| FlixBus US | 4 | 5h 33m | $54.31 |
| Greyhound | 3 | 5h 19m | $53.29 |
Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Milwaukee to Eau Claire start at $47. On average, there are 1 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.
Badger Bus is a family-owned bus company running routes across Wisconsin and Minnesota, such as Milwaukee to Eau Claire. It shares the same fuzzy mascot as the University of Wisconsin, which makes it a popular choice for students traveling between the Madison and Milwaukee campuses. The easily recognizable red, white, and black buses feature free reliable Wi-Fi, comfortable seats with outlets, and clean restroom facilities.
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 4 trips per day from Milwaukee to Eau Claire, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 3 bus trips from Milwaukee to Eau Claire every day, with the average journey taking around 5 hours and 19 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Eau Claire usually start from $40.
The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 25 minutes to cover the 217 miles from Milwaukee to Eau Claire. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 20 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in Eau Claire. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 5:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Milwaukee to Eau Claire, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 8 scheduled buses that travel from Milwaukee to Eau Claire every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 7 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Milwaukee to Eau Claire; ticket prices start at $54.00.
Nestling on the banks of the great Lake Michigan, Milwaukee has some of the most scenic views around, making it every photographer’s perfect destination. Boasting 85 miles of scenic waterfront bike lanes, Milwaukee is the perfect spot to ride a bike and enjoy the sunset together with your friends. It is also the home of the Harley Davidson Museum, a vast waterfront gallery that offers 11 permanent exhibitions. The museum features not only bikes but also special items such as a whole engine room, making it a must-visit spot for bike enthusiasts. If you are not interested in bikes, the Basilica of St. Josaphat, which is modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, offers many wondrous shots.
Milwaukee’s famous German bratwursts are a must-try for all visitors, and the best place to enjoy this dish is Usinger’s. Other similar establishments include Mader’s and Milwaukee Public Market. For authentic American eats, Leon's Frozen Custard Drive-In offers amazing sloppy-joe burgers.
The Milwaukee Intermodal Station is the city’s main transportation hub. Visitors can catch both buses and trains at this location. The city is served by two airports. The Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on the southern edge of the city handles commercial flights, while the Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport in the northwest handles private flights.
Image credit: Jeramey Jannene
Link to image attribution
Image credit: Payton Chung
Link to image attributionThe Milwaukee Intermodal Station is the major transportation hub for rail and bus travel in Wisconsin. The station is Amtrak’s second busiest in the Midwest. It acts as a gateway for long-distance travel into the American West and also connects Milwaukee to the surrounding Midwest states via the Hiawatha service. Renovated in 2007, the Intermodal Station now also offers a range of intercity bus services from carriers, including Greyhound and Jefferson Lines. Local bus routes and The Hop streetcar service provide convenient local travel around Milwaukee. Located in the city’s downtown, The Intermodal Station has vast retail spaces, several museums, and pleasant waterways all on its doorstep.
Intermodal Station - 433 W ST Paul Ave
Mitchell Airport - 5300 S Howell Ave
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Eau Claire.
Mcdonald's Restaurant
642 University Drive - Towers Hall
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
