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Eau Claire, WI is a city of about 70,000 in west-central Wisconsin, set where the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers meet. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire sits right along the Chippewa, and its students give the city a lively, creative streak that shows in its growing music and arts scene. Water Street is the heart of student life, a strip near campus packed with restaurants and bars, while the Third Ward and Randall Park neighborhoods offer leafier residential streets nearby. Phoenix Park downtown hosts the farmers market and sits at the hub of the Chippewa River State Trail, which threads through town. Between the rivers, the trails, and a revitalized downtown, Eau Claire has built a reputation as a surprisingly hip small city in the Chippewa Valley.
The classic student hub, an energetic strip right by campus lined with restaurants and bars, with apartments and houses in the middle of it all. It is the heart of student social life.
Just across the river, the Third Ward is quieter and leafier, full of older houses students lease for a more laid-back, residential feel close to class. It balances calm and proximity.
Also near campus, Randall Park mixes older homes and smaller apartment buildings and draws students who want character and a short walk to UWEC. It suits those wanting a residential feel.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Eau Claire.
Eau Claire Transit runs the local buses across about fifteen routes, with the downtown Transit Center as the main hub and direct service to UW-Eau Claire. Rides are free for UWEC students with a Blugold ID, so the bus is an easy default. Routes connect campus, downtown, and the surrounding neighborhoods. The free pass makes transit a no-brainer for many students.
The campus, Water Street, and the Third Ward all sit close together, so walking covers a lot of day-to-day student life. Biking is genuinely popular thanks to the Chippewa River State Trail and a connected network that runs through town. The trail doubles as a scenic commute and weekend route. Walking and biking handle most trips near campus.
A car is useful for grocery runs, jobs, and Wisconsin winters. Between free buses, a walkable campus core, and strong trails, plenty of students manage without leaning on one. A vehicle mainly helps in deep winter or for big errands. Check parking near campus before you lease.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Eau Claire is friendly on the wallet compared to bigger college towns. Rooms in shared student houses often run about $350 to $550 a month, while a one-bedroom apartment typically lands between $600 and $850. The Water Street area and newer buildings sit toward the higher end, and splitting a house keeps your share low.
Browse student housing near each Eau Claire-area university.