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Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Livonia, LA

Compiled 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 6m ★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m

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

Downtown Lake Charles, LA, LA

Lake Charles, LA

Liisbet Luup

Downtown Livonia, LA, LA

Livonia, LA

Oleksandr Plakhota

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: West Vine Street — 33.2 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

13 mi · 14 min · I 10; US 90
6

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria
7

Keep slight left at fork

444 ft · 11 sec
8

Continue on US 165

18 mi · 22 min · US 165
9

Turn right onto US 190

13 mi · 14 min · 3rd Avenue
10

Continue on US 190

28 mi · 31 min · Basile Eunice Highway
11

Continue on US 190

4.4 mi · 4 min · West Landry Street
12

Turn slight right onto US 190

33 mi · 42 min · West Vine Street
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn left onto LA 78

0.3 mi · 33 sec · State Route 78
Use the left lane.
14

Arrive at destination

LA 78

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 56.2 miles from Lake Charles, LA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.2 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 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.

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 112.4 miles and 2h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Lake Charles, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Vine Street for about 33.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Louisiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eunice, LA

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Kinder, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eunice, LA

Meal break

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.

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

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 80.3

Opelousas, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 80.3

Opelousas, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Nissan Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 80.3

Opelousas, Louisiana

+33172676914

EVgo Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 16.1

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

ChargeLab Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

+18006360986

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Visit website

Lake Charles Visitor Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+13374369588

Visit website

Millennium Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+13374911280

Visit website

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+13374919147

Visit website

Escape Room Louisiana

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: Closed

+13374295445

Visit website

We Rock the Spectrum - Lake Charles

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 9:30 am–6 pm

+13374191986

Visit website

The Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 9:30 am–4:30 pm

+13374261559

Visit website

Bayou Escape Rooms

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

Eunice Depot Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 56.2

Eunice, Louisiana

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+13374576540

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

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.

3
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | Belden Street

Turn right onto Belden Street

Navigation decision point

3
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
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
4
15.2 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
112.1 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in | LA 78 / State Route 78

Turn left onto LA 78 / State Route 78

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.98 one way

$33.95 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
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.

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

3:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Livonia, LA

Afternoon in Livonia on Saturday

Local time

3:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

84°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

3 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

2h 15m 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?

112.4 mi in 2h 15m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.2 mi on West Vine Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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.

Driving Effort 3/10

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.

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 Livonia, 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 33.2 miles on West Vine Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Livonia, LA before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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