Origin
Lake Charles, LA
Afternoon in Lake Charles on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
99.3 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Charles, LA
Liisbet Luup
Alexandria, LA
Maive & Nahuel Fotografía
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 99.3 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Enterprise Boulevard, Belden Street, US 165 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
49.6 miles from Lake Charles, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 44m drive with frequent turns across 99.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Enterprise Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 1h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Belden Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 165 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Masonic Circle | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Masonic Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fenner Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Overton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Casson Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Enterprise Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on Enterprise Boulevard
479 ft
·
15 sec
·
Enterprise Boulevard
2
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Enterprise Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Belden Street
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
Belden Street
4
Take the ramp slight left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
5
Merge slight left
13 mi
·
14 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 165: Kinder, Alexandria
7
Keep slight left
443 ft
·
12 sec
8
Continue straight
78 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Masonic Circle
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Masonic Circle
10
Exit the rotary onto Masonic Drive
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Masonic Drive
11
Continue on Fenner Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Fenner Street
12
Turn left onto Overton Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Overton Street
13
Continue on Casson Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Casson Street
14
At the end of the road, turn left onto 2nd Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
15
Turn left onto Murray Street
367 ft
·
16 sec
·
Murray Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.6 miles from Lake Charles, LA, or about 52m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.6 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Charles, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Charles, LA
This is one driving day of about 99.3 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Charles, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.6 mi from Lake Charles, LA · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.6 miles from Lake Charles, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alexandria, LA
The final approach into Alexandria, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Alexandria, LA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.18 one way
$30.36 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $16.65 | $33.30 |
| premium | $4.61 | $18.02 | $36.05 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $22.06 | $44.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.43 | $4.77 |
| Efficient EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.90 | $6.36 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Afternoon in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 99.3 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Enterprise Boulevard, Belden Street, US 165. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.6 miles from Lake Charles, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 1h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lake Charles, LA to Alexandria, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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