Origin
Red Chute, LA
Morning in Red Chute on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Chute, LA to Lake Charles, LA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
197 mi
317 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 46m
★
6 AM
3h 58m
8 AM
4h 24m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 23m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Chute, LA
Joshuan Barboza
Lake Charles, LA
Liisbet Luup
Trip Overview
The drive from Red Chute, LA to Lake Charles, LA covers 197 miles and takes about 3h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Highway 171, Fisher Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.9 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.75 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.5 miles from Red Chute, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Red Chute, LA to Lake Charles, LA covers 197 miles and takes about 3h 58m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 56.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 197 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 68.6 miles (LA 485 / State Route 485): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 West: Shreveport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 West: Shreveport
4
10.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
4
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
LA 485 / State Route 485
Turn right onto LA 485 / State Route 485
Navigation decision point
5
126.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
|
US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street
Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
148.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
|
US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Turn left onto US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 56.9 mi | 59m |
| Highway 171 | 37.5 mi | 43m |
| Fisher Road | 21.4 mi | 25m |
| LA 6 | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| Main Street | 12.9 mi | 17m |
| Shreveport Highway | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| LA 485 | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| Purple Heart Recipients Highway | 7.9 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 56.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Chute, LA and Lake Charles, LA.
1
Start on US 79; US 80
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 80
2
Continue on US 79; US 80
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Texas Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
4
Merge onto I 220
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Johnny Wyatt Memorial Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 20 West: Shreveport
6
Merge onto I 20
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
8
Continue on I 49
57 mi
·
59 min
·
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
10
Turn slight right
202 ft
·
4 sec
11
Turn right onto LA 485
501 ft
·
10 sec
·
State Route 485
12
Continue on LA 485
10 mi
·
14 min
·
LA 485
13
At end of road, turn right onto LA 6
14 mi
·
16 min
·
LA 6
14
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
15
Continue on Martin Luther King Drive
47 ft
·
8 sec
·
Martin Luther King Drive
16
Turn left onto Fisher Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Fisher Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 171
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Fisher Road
18
Continue on US 171
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Shreveport Highway
19
Continue on US 171
239 ft
·
3 sec
·
Shreveport Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8
135 ft
·
1 sec
·
North 6th Street
21
Continue on US 171; LA 8
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 6th Street
22
Merge onto US 171
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South 5th Street
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 171
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 5th Street
24
Continue on US 171
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Main Street
25
Continue on US 171
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
26
Continue on US 171
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Pine Street
27
Turn left onto US 171; US 190
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 171; US 190
38 mi
·
43 min
·
Highway 171
29
Continue on US 171
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Martin Luther King Highway
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
31
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
33
Turn straight onto US 90 Bus
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Enterprise Boulevard
34
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Enterprise Boulevard
35
Arrive at destination
Enterprise Boulevard
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 98.5 miles from Red Chute, LA, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.5 miles or 1h 54m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Charles, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Red Chute, 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 Red Chute, LA
This is one driving day of about 197 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Red Chute, 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 Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 56.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 98.5 mi from Red Chute, LA · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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
Arriving in Lake Charles, LA
The final approach into Lake Charles, 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 Charles, 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
$29.75 one way
$59.50 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $32.66 | $65.32 |
| premium | $4.56 | $35.36 | $70.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.50 | $86.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.1 | 0 | $20.68 | $9.46 |
| Efficient EV | 49.3 | 0 | $17.24 | $7.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.8 | 0 | $27.58 | $12.61 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Lake Charles, LA
Morning in Lake Charles on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
29 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
3h 58m 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 Red Chute, LA to Lake Charles, LA covers 197 miles and takes about 3h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, Highway 171, Fisher Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.5 miles from Red Chute, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.75 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 197 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 68.6 miles (LA 485 / State Route 485): Navigation decision point.
The route from Red Chute, LA to Lake Charles, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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