Origin
Melville, LA
Late night in Melville on Friday
Local time
1:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melville, LA to Lafayette, LA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melville, LA
Szymon Shields
Trip Overview
The drive from Melville, LA to Lafayette, LA covers 52.9 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 190, Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, State Route 105 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on US 190. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 52.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 190 and Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.8 miles on US 190.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 190 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 190 and Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Gum Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gum Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (LA 10 / Lafleur Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gum Street
Turn left onto Gum Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
LA 10 / Lafleur Street
Turn left onto LA 10 / Lafleur Street
Navigation decision point
4
11.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
30.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Lafayette
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Lafayette
4
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
Jefferson Boulevard
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 190 | 18.8 mi | 22m |
| Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| State Route 105 | 10.1 mi | 17m |
| Veterans Memorial Expressway | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Northwest Evangeline Thruway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Fontenot Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Levee Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rue Jefferson | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 190
— 18.8 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melville, LA and Lafayette, LA.
1
Start on Church Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Church Street
2
Turn left onto Gum Street
363 ft
·
21 sec
·
Gum Street
3
Turn left onto LA 10
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Lafleur Street
4
Turn right onto Fontenot Street
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Fontenot Street
5
Continue on LA 105
10 mi
·
17 min
·
State Route 105
6
Continue on LA 105
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Levee Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
8
Merge onto US 190
19 mi
·
22 min
·
US 190
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Lafayette
10
Merge onto I 49; US 167
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
11
Continue on I 49; US 167
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
12
Continue on I 49; LA 182
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
13
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
14
Continue on Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Rue Jefferson
15
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
335 ft
·
16 sec
·
Rue Vermilion Ouest
16
Arrive at destination
Rue Vermilion Ouest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.4 mi from Melville, LA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Melville, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lafayette, LA
The final approach into Lafayette, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.99 one way
$15.98 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.77 | $17.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.49 | $18.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.68 | $23.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
(1.9 mi)
$0.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Lafayette, LA
Late night in Lafayette on Friday
Local time
1:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 10m 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 Melville, LA to Lafayette, LA covers 52.9 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 190, Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, State Route 105. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.4 miles from Melville, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gum Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (LA 10 / Lafleur Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Melville, LA to Lafayette, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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