Origin
Lake Charles, LA
Evening in Lake Charles on Wednesday
Local time
6:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Lake Providence, LA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
5h 32m
Distance
262.5 mi
422 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 20m
★
6 AM
5h 33m
8 AM
6h 0m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 40m
3 PM
5h 44m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Charles, LA
Liisbet Luup
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Lake Providence, LA covers 262.5 miles and takes about 5h 32m 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 $39.64 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
131.3 miles from Lake Charles, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 32m drive with frequent turns across 262.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Lake Providence, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Boulevard | — | — |
| Belden Street | — | — |
| US 165 | — | — |
| Macarthur Drive | — | — |
| Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge | — | — |
| Monroe Highway | — | — |
| LA 17 | — | — |
| State Route 17 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Enterprise Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles, LA and Lake Providence, 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
Turn slight left onto Macarthur Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Macarthur Drive
10
Turn right
105 ft
·
7 sec
11
Turn left onto Macarthur Drive
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Macarthur Drive
12
Continue on Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
13
Continue on Monroe Highway
62 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Monroe Highway
14
Continue straight
23 mi
·
26 min
15
Turn straight
6.1 mi
·
7 min
16
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
17
Keep slight right
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
18
Merge slight left
34 mi
·
36 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward LA 17: Delhi, Winnsboro
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
LA 17: Delhi, Winnsboro
20
Turn left onto State Route 17
240 ft
·
10 sec
·
State Route 17
21
Continue on Broadway Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Street
22
Continue on Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
23
Continue on State Route 17
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
State Route 17
24
Turn right
24 mi
·
41 min
25
Continue on Tensas Bayou Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Tensas Bayou Road
26
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lake Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Street
27
Arrive at your destination
3 ft
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 131.3 miles from Lake Charles, LA, or about 2h 46m 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 58 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.3 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Providence, 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 262.5 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 131.3 mi from Lake Charles, LA · 2h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131.3 miles from Lake Charles, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Providence, LA
The final approach into Lake Providence, 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 Lake Providence, 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
$39.64 one way
$79.29 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $43.52 | $87.04 |
| premium | $4.56 | $47.12 | $94.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.96 | $115.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.8 | 0 | $27.56 | $12.60 |
| Efficient EV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.97 | $10.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105 | 1 | $36.75 | $16.80 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Lake Providence, LA
Evening in Lake Providence on Wednesday
Local time
6:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
24 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
5h 32m 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 Lake Providence, LA covers 262.5 miles and takes about 5h 32m 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 131.3 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 $39.64 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 is a straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Lake Providence, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lake Charles, LA to Lake Providence, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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