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Create accountDrive Time
1h 49m
Distance
90.5 mi
146 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Charles, LA
Liisbet Luup
The drive from Saint Martinville, LA to Lake Charles, LA covers 90.5 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, Terrace Highway, East University Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.1 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.84 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.3 miles from Saint Martinville, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 90.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and Terrace Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 70.1 miles on I 10.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
33 ft
Total Descent
44 ft
Highest Point
40 ft
~19.4 mi in
Elevation Range
30 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Terrace Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Martin Luther King Jr Drive.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 49m 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 0.1 miles (South Martin Luther King Jr Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (LA 96 / Port Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.3 miles (LA 182 / Southwest Frontage Road): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto South Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto LA 96 / Port Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto LA 182 / Southwest Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 182 / Southwest Evangeline Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto East University Avenue
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 70.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| Terrace Highway | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| East University Avenue | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Southwest Evangeline Thruway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Evangeline Thruway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Enterprise Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| LA 182 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| State Route 96 | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Martinville, LA and Lake Charles, LA.
Start on West Bridge Street
Turn right onto South Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Turn right onto LA 96
Continue on LA 96
Continue on LA 96
At end of road, turn right onto LA 182
Take the ramp onto LA 182
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 182
Continue on US 90; LA 182
Turn left onto East University Avenue
Turn left
Merge onto I 10; US 167
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 90 Bus
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.3 miles or 58m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Charles, LA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saint Martinville, 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 Saint Martinville, LA
This is one driving day of about 90.5 miles and 1h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.3 mi from Saint Martinville, LA · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 45.3 miles from Saint Martinville, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.1 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$13.84 one way
$27.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $15.17 | $30.35 |
| premium | $4.61 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.11 | $40.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.50 | $4.34 |
| Efficient EV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.67 | $5.79 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 Saint Martinville on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Lake Charles on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny
Along the Route
65°F
Newton, TX
45 mi in
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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