Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Woodmere, LA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 11m

Distance

216.5 mi

348 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
3h 58m ★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 38m
10 AM
4h 21m
12 PM
4h 18m
3 PM
4h 22m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 4m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Lake Charles, LA, LA

Lake Charles, LA

Liisbet Luup

Downtown Woodmere, LA, LA

Woodmere, LA

Valeriia Miller

Trip Overview

The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Woodmere, LA covers 216.5 miles and takes about 4h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 10, Pontchartrain Expressway, Westbank Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 199 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.70 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

108.2 miles from Lake Charles, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 216.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 11m highway drive covering 216.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and Pontchartrain Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 199 miles on I 10.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 199 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Pontchartrain Expressway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 200.9 miles in near I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 200.9 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles (US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 211.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
200.9 mi into trip | ~3h 46m in | I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway toward New Orleans, Business District

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward New Orleans, Business District
6
204.5 mi into trip | ~3h 51m in | US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
211.2 mi into trip | ~3h 59m in

Take the exit toward LA 3017: Peters Road, MacArthur Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6B Toward LA 3017: Peters Road, MacArthur Avenue
6
215.1 mi into trip | ~4h 6m in | Alex Kornman Boulevard

At end of road, turn left onto Alex Kornman Boulevard

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

6
215.5 mi into trip | ~4h 8m in | Woodmere Boulevard

At end of road, turn left onto Woodmere Boulevard

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Lake Charles, LA and Woodmere, LA, road signs point toward New Orleans and Business District.

New Orleans

200.9 mi in | ~3h 46m | via I 10

Business District

200.9 mi in | ~3h 46m | via I 10

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 199 mi 3h 42m
Pontchartrain Expressway 5.9 mi 6m
Westbank Expressway 4 mi 5m
Destrehan Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
Enterprise Boulevard 1.7 mi 3m
Crescent City Connection 0.7 mi 1m
Paige Janette Drive 0.5 mi 1m
Deerpark Drive 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 10 — 199 mi, about 3h 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

199 mi · 3 hr 42 min · I 10; US 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

3.5 mi · 4 min · Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business District Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS

2.4 mi · 2 min · Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on US 90 BUS

0.7 mi · 1 min · Crescent City Connection
9

Continue on US 90 BUS

3.7 mi · 4 min · Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 6B Toward LA 3017: Peters Road, MacArthur Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn straight onto Westbank Expressway

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Westbank Expressway
12

Turn slight left

0.6 mi · 1 min
13

Turn slight left

0.1 mi · 20 sec
14

Turn straight onto Destrehan Avenue

2.3 mi · 3 min · Destrehan Avenue
15

At end of road, turn left onto Destrehan Avenue

411 ft · 19 sec · Destrehan Avenue
16

Turn right onto Long Leaf Lane

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Long Leaf Lane
17

At end of road, turn left onto Alex Kornman Boulevard

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Alex Kornman Boulevard
18

Turn right onto Patricia Lane

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Patricia Lane
19

At end of road, turn left onto Woodmere Boulevard

308 ft · 12 sec · Woodmere Boulevard
20

Turn right onto Deerpark Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Deerpark Drive
21

Turn left onto Oakmere Drive

254 ft · 14 sec · Oakmere Drive
22

Turn left onto Paige Janette Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Paige Janette Drive
23

Arrive at destination

Paige Janette Drive

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 108.2 miles from Lake Charles, LA, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199 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 48 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.2 miles or 2h 2m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodmere, 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 216.5 miles and 4h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 10 for about 199 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 108.2 mi from Lake Charles, LA · 2h 2m into the drive

suburb city of Baton Rouge, located in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Port Allen, LA

108 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

Crowley, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lafayette, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.2 miles from Lake Charles, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 199 miles.

Arriving in Woodmere, LA

The final approach into Woodmere, 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 Woodmere, LA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, our park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the le...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 209
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.70 one way

$65.39 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $35.89 $71.79
premium $4.56 $38.86 $77.72
diesel $5.61 $47.80 $95.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65 0 $22.73 $10.39
Efficient EV 54.1 0 $18.94 $8.66
EV Truck/SUV 86.6 1 $30.31 $13.86

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Thursday

Local time

2:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Woodmere, LA

Afternoon in Woodmere on Thursday

Local time

2:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°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

17 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

4h 11m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Woodmere, LA covers 216.5 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Pontchartrain Expressway, Westbank Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.2 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 $32.70 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 200.9 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles (US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 211.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lake Charles, LA and Woodmere, LA, road signs point toward New Orleans and Business District.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Woodmere, LA

Houma, LA 53.1 mi · 1h 19m

More from Lake Charles, LA

Marrero, LA 213.7 mi · 4h 3m Timberlane, LA 213.6 mi · 4h 5m Avondale, LA 206.2 mi · 3h 59m Waggaman, LA 206.2 mi · 3h 59m Ama, LA 204.4 mi · 3h 53m Bridge City, LA 203.2 mi · 3h 54m

More trips to Woodmere, LA

Bossier City, LA 337.1 mi Central, LA 97.4 mi Baton Rouge, LA 91.3 mi Houma, LA 52.9 mi Metairie, LA 18.2 mi Kenner, LA 17.7 mi
Overnight trips from Lake Charles, LA Scenic drives in LA

Explore more options from Lake Charles, LA or browse trips ending in Woodmere, LA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse LA road trips.

Explore maps for Lake Charles, LA or Woodmere, LA on MapSof.net.