Bus to Eau Claire

Eau Claire sits in west-central Wisconsin at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, an hour and a half east of the Twin Cities and the working centre of the Chippewa Valley. It's a college town shaped by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, with a downtown that has rebuilt steadily around the Pablo Center at the Confluence, the Phoenix Park area and the long-running music culture associated with the Bon Iver indie-folk scene. The bus to Eau Claire drops you on the north side of the city at the McDonald's flag stop on Truax Lane, with the central downtown, the UWEC campus and the Phoenix Park riverfront all reachable by short rideshare. People come for the Confluence Project at the Pablo Center, for the Phoenix Park bandshell and the Saturday morning farmers market, for the Eaux Claires music festival heritage and the indie-folk venues, for canoeing on the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, and for an unhurried Wisconsin weekend. An Eau Claire bus ticket lands you a short rideshare from the central confluence.

Greyhound stops in Eau Claire

Eau Claire has one Greyhound stop: the McDonald's flag stop at 6251 Truax Lane, on the north side of the city. Buses board from the truck parking area behind the McDonald's, so plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure to be in position when the bus pulls in. The McDonald's itself has restrooms and food options for waiting.

The Truax Lane location sits north of the central downtown and the UWEC campus. From here it's a short rideshare into the central downtown — the Pablo Center at the Confluence, the Phoenix Park area, the Haymarket Plaza and the central restaurants are concentrated within a comfortable walking radius once you're in the centre.

If you're being met, the parking lot is straightforward and rideshare drivers know the location. The most useful first move after arrival is a rideshare to Phoenix Park or Haymarket Plaza — the central confluence area where the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers meet, with the Pablo Center, restaurants and the central walkable district all within reach. Have your ticket ready on your phone or printed for boarding.

Getting around Eau Claire after your bus to Eau Claire arrives

Eau Claire's central downtown is more walkable than the metro footprint suggests, and the central confluence area between Phoenix Park and Haymarket Plaza is the working heart of the city. From a rideshare into the centre, walking covers the Pablo Center, the central restaurants, the Eau Claire Children's Theatre and the bridges across to UWEC's Lower Campus.

The Eau Claire Transit network — the city's public bus service — runs fixed routes through the day, with useful routes connecting downtown to UWEC, Oakwood Mall and the surrounding suburbs. Service is steady on weekdays and lighter on weekends. Rideshare runs reliably across the city and is the realistic option for evening trips and for the further attractions like Carson Park.

For the wider region — the Chippewa Falls north of the city (home of Leinenkugel's brewery), the Apple River tubing in St. Croix Falls, and onward to the Twin Cities — a rental car is the practical option. Cycling is also viable on the Chippewa River State Trail, the long rail-trail running along the Chippewa River from Eau Claire south through the Wisconsin countryside, and on the central downtown's bridges over the rivers. The Phoenix Park bandshell hosts free summer concerts on Tuesday evenings.

Top things to do in Eau Claire

• The Pablo Center at the Confluence, on the central confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, with concerts, theatre, dance and rotating gallery exhibitions in a working performing-arts complex.
• Phoenix Park, the central confluence-side park with the Phoenix Park Bandshell, the Saturday morning Chippewa Valley Farmers Market in season and free summer evening concerts.
• The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus, with the Foster Gallery, the Putnam Park trails on the Lower Campus and the Haas Fine Arts Center.
• Carson Park, the large central city park west of downtown, with Carson Park Stadium (the home of the Eau Claire Express summer collegiate baseball), the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum, the Chippewa Valley Museum and miles of walking paths.
• The Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum, in Carson Park, with restored 19th-century logging buildings, a working blacksmith shop and exhibits on the Chippewa Valley logging era that built the city.
• The Chippewa Valley Museum, also in Carson Park, with strong galleries on regional Wisconsin history, the Chippewa Valley Native peoples and the immigrant settlement of the city.
• The Children's Museum of Eau Claire, on the central downtown South Barstow Street, with hands-on science and art exhibits and the working children's programmes.
• The Chippewa River State Trail, the long rail-trail running south from Eau Claire to Durand, with riverside cycling and walking through Wisconsin farm country and woodland.
• The Eau Claire Children's Theatre, on Banbury Place, with year-round productions in a working community theatre.
• The Banbury Place complex, the converted industrial buildings on the east side of the central downtown, with restaurants, breweries, the Children's Theatre and a working creative scene.
• Lake Wissota State Park, north of the city, with swimming beaches, fishing, kayak put-ins and walking trails along the Lake Wissota reservoir on the Chippewa River.
• Leinenkugel's Lodge in Chippewa Falls north of the city, the long-running Wisconsin brewery's working visitor centre with brewery tours, tastings and a working Wisconsin brewery atmosphere.
• The Lismore Hotel and the Volume One Gallery, in the central downtown — Volume One is the Eau Claire arts and culture magazine that has documented the city's creative renaissance, with regular exhibitions in their gallery space.

Best time to visit Eau Claire

Late spring through early autumn is the long, comfortable window. From late April into June the rivers come back to working pace, the Phoenix Park bandshell schedule begins, and the temperature sits in a pleasant range for walking. The Eaux Claires music festival heritage (the indie festival ran 2015-2018 and is no longer active in its original form, but the music scene around the Pablo Center remains strong) gives the city a continuing summer cultural calendar.

July and August are warm and humid — afternoons in the 80s and occasionally low 90s — but the Wisconsin lake-effect breeze and the river systems keep the worst of it at bay. The Saturday morning farmers market in Phoenix Park is at its busiest, the Chippewa River State Trail is at its most popular and the long evenings stretch out late.

September and October bring the Wisconsin fall — colour through the river bluffs and the surrounding woodland, comfortable walking weather, and the start of the UWEC academic year. This is the connoisseur's window for the city, and the Chippewa River State Trail is at its most photogenic.

Winter is real Wisconsin cold. From December through February temperatures regularly drop into the 20s and below, with occasional sub-zero stretches and significant snow events. The Pablo Center, the Children's Museum, the Children's Theatre and the long-running Banbury Place restaurants and breweries all stay full pace, and ice skating on the central downtown rinks runs through the season. Pack for the cold; a Wisconsin February day at Phoenix Park covered in fresh snow is a particular Eau Claire pleasure for those who like that kind of thing.

A Saturday morning in late June at the Phoenix Park bandshell, with the Chippewa Valley Farmers Market in full swing, the rivers running clear and a free concert about to start under cottonwoods, is when Eau Claire is at its most itself. The Chippewa River State Trail in October fall colour is the connoisseur's alternative, and February's snowy central downtown has its own particular pleasures for those who like that kind of weather. Use the search bar on this page to check schedules and book bus tickets to Eau Claire when your dates are firm.

Planning Your Greyhound Bus Trip to Eau Claire?

You're in the right place! Get all the details you need to arrange your bus journey to Eau Claire! You can board the Greyhound at Eau Claire (McDonald's). You can easily find the location of the stop(s) on the map available on this page. Traveling to or departing from Eau Claire can cost you as little as $20.48. If you're on the hunt for a cheap ticket to Eau Claire, remember to book early. Traveling on weekdays or during non-peak hours can also lead you to some of the most budget-friendly fares available! With 18 destinations linked to Eau Claire, Greyhound provides you with multiple options for planning your bus trip.

Why travel to Eau Claire with Greyhound

When you choose Greyhound, you're promised a comfy seat and free Wi-Fi throughout your journey. Stay connected and entertained while we safely drive you to your destination! Enjoy a comfy bus trip to Eau Claire with our onboard facilities like free Wi-Fi and power outlets. Choose your favorite seat while booking and travel with peace of mind rest easy knowing your ticket covers one carry-on and one checked bag.

How to book your bus ticket to Eau Claire

Booking a ticket with Greyhound is a breeze: on this website or on the free Greyhound App, you can complete your booking in a few clicks. When purchasing your ticket to Eau Claire online, you can choose between different secured online payment methods, such as credit and debit cards. Alternatively, you can pay in cash at a sales point.