Origin
Lake Charles, LA
Afternoon in Lake Charles on Monday
Local time
3:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Red Chute, LA
Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
196.8 mi
317 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 46m
★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 23m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Charles, LA
Liisbet Luup
Red Chute, LA
Joshuan Barboza
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Red Chute, LA covers 196.8 miles and takes about 3h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 49, Highway 171, Hammond Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.9 miles on I 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.09 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.4 miles from Lake Charles, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Red Chute, LA covers 196.8 miles and takes about 3h 58m, 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 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 48.4 miles in near US 171 / North Pine Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 196.8 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 48.4 miles (US 171 / North Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles (US 171 / Shreveport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 186.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
48.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
US 171 / North Pine Street
Turn right onto US 171 / North Pine Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
US 171 / Shreveport Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 171 / Shreveport Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
186.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
5
186.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
5
192.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward Industrial Drive, Barksdale AFB
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Industrial Drive, Barksdale AFB
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Red Chute, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Monroe
186.2 mi in
|
~3h 42m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 56.9 mi | 59m |
| Highway 171 | 37.5 mi | 43m |
| Hammond Street | 20.9 mi | 24m |
| Natchitoches Highway | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| Lake Charles Highway | 12.9 mi | 17m |
| Shreveport Highway | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| LA 485 | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| Purple Heart Recipients Highway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 56.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles, LA and Red Chute, LA.
1
Start on Enterprise Boulevard
478 ft
·
14 sec
·
Enterprise Boulevard
2
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Enterprise Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Belden Street
93 ft
·
1 sec
·
Belden Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10; US 90
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Opelousas Street
7
Continue on I-10 Service Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
I-10 Service Road
8
Turn right onto Opelousas Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Opelousas Street
9
Turn left onto US 171
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North Martin Luther King Highway
10
Continue on US 171
38 mi
·
43 min
·
Highway 171
11
Continue on US 171; US 190
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
12
Continue on US 171; US 190
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mahlon Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 171; US 190
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Shirley Street
14
Turn right onto US 171
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Pine Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 171
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
16
Continue on US 171
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Lake Charles Highway
17
Continue on US 171
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South 5th Street
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 171; LA 8
412 ft
·
5 sec
·
North 5th Street
19
Enter roundabout onto US 171
182 ft
·
2 sec
·
Shreveport Highway
20
Continue on US 171
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Shreveport Highway
21
Continue on US 171
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Hammond Street
22
Continue on Fisher Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Fisher Road
23
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
24
Turn right onto LA 6
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
San Antonio Avenue
25
Continue on LA 6
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Natchitoches Highway
26
Turn left onto LA 485
10 mi
·
14 min
·
LA 485
27
Continue on LA 485
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
State Route 485
28
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
29
Merge onto I 49
57 mi
·
59 min
·
I 49
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
32
Merge onto I 20
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Industrial Drive, Barksdale AFB
34
Keep slight left at fork
139 ft
·
7 sec
35
Turn left onto LA 782-2
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Industrial Drive
36
Continue on Industrial Drive
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Industrial Drive
37
Turn straight onto US 79; US 80
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East Texas Street
38
Continue on US 79; US 80
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 80
39
Continue on US 79; US 80
74 ft
·
7 sec
·
Highway 80
40
Arrive at destination
US 79; US 80
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 98.4 miles from Lake Charles, LA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 80 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.4 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Chute, 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 196.8 miles and 3h 58m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 56.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 98.4 mi from Lake Charles, LA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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
Arriving in Red Chute, LA
The final approach into Red Chute, 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 Red Chute, 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
$30.09 one way
$60.17 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $33.00 | $66.00 |
| premium | $4.61 | $35.72 | $71.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.72 | $87.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59 | 0 | $20.66 | $9.45 |
| Efficient EV | 49.2 | 0 | $17.22 | $7.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.7 | 0 | $27.55 | $12.60 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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
Red Chute, LA
Afternoon in Red Chute on Monday
Local time
3:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
18 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
3h 58m 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 Red Chute, LA covers 196.8 miles and takes about 3h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, Highway 171, Hammond Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.4 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 $30.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 196.8 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 48.4 miles (US 171 / North Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles (US 171 / Shreveport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 186.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Red Chute, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
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