Drive or Fly: Sulphur, LA to Broussard, LA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for LCH–AEX. At 121 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 36m

Distance

121.3 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

49 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 40m

12m in the air

Air Distance

97 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sulphur, LA → LCH 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AEX → Broussard, LA 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Sulphur, LA LCH — Lake Charles Regional Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Broussard, LA AEX — Alexandria International Airport 47 mi, ~70m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LCH and AEX. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 46m

1h 43m on rail

Total Cost

$14

CO2

4 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sulphur, LA → Lake Charles 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 103m

Arrival 10m

Lafayette Amtrak Station → Broussard, LA 69m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Lake Charles 10 mi, ~14m drive

To Lafayette Amtrak Station 46 mi, ~69m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 36m	3h 40m	3h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$124	$14
Carbon footprint	49 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 14, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Sulphur, LA to Broussard, LA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.