Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

80.6 mi

130 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

22 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

1h 28m ★

6 AM

1h 35m

8 AM

1h 50m

10 AM

1h 40m

12 PM

1h 39m

3 PM

1h 41m

5 PM

1h 49m

8 PM

1h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lake Charles, LA

Liisbet Luup

Opelousas, LA

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA covers 80.6 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Basile Eunice Highway, US 165, 3rd Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.8 miles on Basile Eunice Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.17 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.

Midpoint

40.3 miles from Lake Charles, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Basile Eunice Highway	27.8 mi	31m
US 165	18.5 mi	22m
3rd Avenue	13 mi	14m
I 10	12.7 mi	14m
West Landry Street	4.4 mi	4m
Enterprise Boulevard	1.7 mi	3m
West Vine Street	1.4 mi	1m
South Union Street	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Basile Eunice Highway — 27.8 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles, LA and Opelousas, LA.

Start on Enterprise Boulevard

478 ft · 14 sec · Enterprise Boulevard

Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

1.6 mi · 3 min · Enterprise Boulevard

Turn right onto Belden Street

93 ft · 1 sec · Belden Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Merge onto I 10; US 90

13 mi · 14 min · I 10; US 90

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec

Toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria

Keep slight left at fork

444 ft · 11 sec

Continue on US 165

18 mi · 22 min · US 165

Turn right onto US 190

13 mi · 14 min · 3rd Avenue

Continue on US 190

28 mi · 31 min · Basile Eunice Highway

Continue on US 190

4.4 mi · 4 min · West Landry Street

Turn slight right onto US 190

1.4 mi · 1 min · West Vine Street

Turn left onto LA 182

0.1 mi · 20 sec · South Union Street

Turn left onto East Bellevue Street

234 ft · 15 sec · East Bellevue Street

Turn left onto LA 182

157 ft · 2 sec · South Main Street

Arrive at destination

LA 182

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 40.3 miles from Lake Charles, LA, or about 48m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.8 miles.

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 18 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 40.3 miles or 48m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Opelousas, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lake Charles, LA

This is one driving day of about 80.6 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lake Charles, LA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Basile Eunice Highway for about 27.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Williams, LA

40 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

Iowa, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elton, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.3 miles from Lake Charles, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Pujo St Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm

+13374392054

Visit website

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Charles, Louisiana

1.9 mi

Pujo St Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm

+13374392054

Visit website

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 6:30 am–3 pm

+13374746065

Visit website

Lake Area Adventures

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 3–8 pm

+13373101681

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 80.6

Opelousas, Louisiana

+33172676914

EVgo Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 11.5

Iowa, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13374295300

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 14.7 and 80.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

14.7 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria

15.2 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

80.4 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | LA 182 / South Union Street

Turn left onto LA 182 / South Union Street

Navigation decision point

80.5 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | East Bellevue Street

Turn left onto East Bellevue Street

Navigation decision point

80.6 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | LA 182 / South Main Street

Turn left onto LA 182 / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.17 one way

$24.35 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$13.36	$26.72
premium	$4.56	$14.47	$28.93
diesel	$5.61	$17.80	$35.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

22 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Other

1 DCFC

ChargeLab Charging Station

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Other

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Iowa, Louisiana

EVgo

1 DCFC

Nissan Charging Station

Opelousas, Louisiana

Other

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Opelousas, Louisiana

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Opelousas, Louisiana

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Iowa, Louisiana

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Tesla

1 DCFC

Other: 9 ChargePoint: 4 Tesla: 2 Tesla Destination: 2 EVgo: 1 Rivian: 1 Blink: 1 EV Connect: 1 Shell Recharge: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	24.2	$8.46	$3.87
Efficient EV	20.2	$7.05	$3.22
EV Truck/SUV	32.2	$11.28	$5.16

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lake Charles, LA

Afternoon in Lake Charles on Saturday

Local time

3:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Opelousas, LA

Afternoon in Opelousas on Saturday

Local time

3:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 35m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA covers 80.6 miles and takes about 1h 35m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Basile Eunice Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 80.4 miles (LA 182 / South Union Street): Navigation decision point.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Alexandria along the way.

Alexandria

14.7 mi in | ~18m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 80.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (39%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA covers 80.6 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Basile Eunice Highway, US 165, 3rd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 40.3 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 $12.17 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.

This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

On the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Alexandria along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Pujo St Cafe

Pujo St Cafe

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

Lake Area Adventures

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargeLab Charging Station

TurnOnGreen Charging Station

Lake Charles Visitor Center

Millennium Park

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center

Escape Room Louisiana

We Rock the Spectrum - Lake Charles

The Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana

Eunice Depot Museum

Bayou Escape Rooms

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lake Charles, LA

Opelousas, LA

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 35m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Lake Charles, LA to Opelousas, LA?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Opelousas, LA

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