Pujo St Cafe
Near the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm
+13374392054
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
112.4 mi
181 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Charles, LA
Liisbet Luup
Livonia, LA
Oleksandr Plakhota
The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Livonia, LA covers 112.4 miles and takes about 2h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Vine Street, Basile Eunice Highway, US 165 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.2 miles on West Vine Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.98 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
56.2 miles from Lake Charles, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Vine Street | 33.2 mi | 42m |
| 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 |
| State Route 78 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles, LA and Livonia, LA.
Start on Enterprise Boulevard
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
Turn right onto Belden Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 165
Turn right onto US 190
Continue on US 190
Continue on US 190
Turn slight right onto US 190
Turn left onto LA 78
Arrive at destination
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.
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 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.2 miles or 1h 7m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livonia, LA than in the middle of the route.
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 112.4 miles and 2h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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.
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 56.2 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.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm
+13374392054
Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Near the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm
+13374392054
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 6:30 am–3 pm
+13374746065
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 3–8 pm
+13373101681
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
Later in the drive, short detour
Opelousas, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Opelousas, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Opelousas, Louisiana
+33172676914
Near the start, short detour
Iowa, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
+18006360986
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+13374369588
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+13374911280
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+13374919147
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: Closed
+13374295445
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm
+13374191986
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 9:30 am–4:30 pm
+13374261559
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Hours: 12–9 pm
+13374295300
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Eunice, Louisiana
Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm
+13374576540
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 112.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Belden Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto LA 78 / State Route 78
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$16.98 one way
$33.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $18.63 | $37.27 |
| premium | $4.56 | $20.17 | $40.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.82 | $49.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.40 |
| Efficient EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.83 | $4.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45 | 0 | $15.74 | $7.19 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Lake Charles on Saturday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Livonia on Saturday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
112.4 mi in 2h 15m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Belden Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 15m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Belden Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Livonia, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Alexandria along the way.
Alexandria
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 112.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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