Trip from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

167.3 mi

269 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

25 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 20m ★

6 AM

3h 33m

8 AM

3h 57m

10 AM

3h 41m

12 PM

3h 39m

3 PM

3h 42m

5 PM

3h 56m

8 PM

3h 25m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Vidalia, LA

Miguel Cuenca

Lake Charles, LA

Liisbet Luup

Trip Overview

The drive from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA covers 167.3 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Masonic Drive, LA 28, Louisiana Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.7 miles on Masonic Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.27 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

83.7 miles from Vidalia, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Masonic Drive	79.7 mi	1h 40m
LA 28	32.3 mi	42m
Louisiana Avenue	27.2 mi	33m
I 10	12.9 mi	14m
US 84	9.3 mi	10m
Pineville Expressway	2 mi	2m
Enterprise Boulevard	1.6 mi	3m
US 167 Bus	1.5 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Masonic Drive — 79.7 mi, about 1h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 84; US 425

9.3 mi · 10 min · US 84; US 425

Turn left onto US 84; LA 15

27 mi · 33 min · Louisiana Avenue

Turn left onto LA 28

32 mi · 42 min · LA 28

Turn left onto LA 28

0.2 mi · 33 sec · LA 28

Merge onto US 167; LA 28

2.0 mi · 2 min · Pineville Expressway

Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus

1.5 mi · 2 min · US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus

Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria

Turn right onto Fenner Street

303 ft · 7 sec · Fenner Street

Continue on Masonic Drive

1.4 mi · 2 min · Masonic Drive

Enter roundabout onto US 165

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Masonic Drive

Continue on US 165

78 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Masonic Drive

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Merge onto I 10

13 mi · 14 min · I 10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Turn straight onto US 90 Bus

0.6 mi · 1 min · Enterprise Boulevard

Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · Enterprise Boulevard

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 83.7 miles from Vidalia, LA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.7 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 37 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 83.7 miles or 1h 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 55m

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 Vidalia, 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 Vidalia, LA

This is one driving day of about 167.3 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Vidalia, 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 Masonic Drive for about 79.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

largest city and parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alexandria, LA

84 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

Jonesville, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alexandria, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.7 miles from Vidalia, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Masonic Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.7 miles.

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

The Creek Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Woodworth, Louisiana

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 83.7

Hours: 10:30 am–3 pm

+13184490674

Pujo St Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lake Charles, Louisiana

1.3 mi

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Charles, Louisiana

1.9 mi

The Creek Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 83.7

Woodworth, Louisiana

Hours: 10:30 am–3 pm

+13184490674

Pujo St Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 167.3

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm

+13374392054

Visit website

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv mile 167.3

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 6:30 am–3 pm

+13374746065

Visit website

The Cottage Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 71.7

Alexandria, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13184484220

Visit website

Brocatos Breakfast & Lunch

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 71.7

Alexandria, Louisiana

Hours: 6–9:30 am

+13184437520

Visit website

Little Tokyo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Natchez, Mississippi

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+16013045802

Lake Area Adventures

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 167.3

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 3–8 pm

+13373101681

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 71.7

Alexandria, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 167.3

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Natchez, Mississippi

+16013045378

Visit website

TurnOnGreen Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 155.4

Iowa, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15106572635

Visit website

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 167.3

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13374295300

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 72.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9.3 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 84; LA 15 / Louisiana Avenue

Turn left onto US 84; LA 15 / Louisiana Avenue

Navigation decision point

36.5 mi into trip | ~44m in | LA 28

Turn left onto LA 28

Navigation decision point

68.6 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | LA 28

Turn left onto LA 28

Navigation decision point

70.8 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in | US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus

Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandri...

72.3 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | Fenner Street

Turn right onto Fenner Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.27 one way

$50.53 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$27.74	$55.47
premium	$4.56	$30.03	$60.06
diesel	$5.61	$36.94	$73.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

25 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Other

1 DCFC

ChargeLab Charging Station

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Other

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Iowa, Louisiana

EVgo

1 DCFC

Eaton Charging Station

Natchez, Mississippi

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Destination Charger

Natchez, Mississippi

Tesla Destination

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Alexandria, Louisiana

Tesla

1 DCFC

Electrify America Charging Station

Alexandria, Louisiana

Electrify America

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Tesla

1 DCFC

Other: 8 Tesla Destination: 5 ChargePoint: 4 Tesla: 2 Blink: 2 EVgo: 1 Electrify America: 1 Rivian: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	50.2	$17.57	$8.03
Efficient EV	41.8	$14.64	$6.69
EV Truck/SUV	66.9	$23.42	$10.71

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Vidalia, LA

Afternoon in Vidalia on Saturday

Local time

2:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lake Charles, LA

Afternoon in Lake Charles on Saturday

Local time

2:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 5 to 10 mph 37% chance Live forecast

85°F

Alexandria, LA

84 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

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 32m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA covers 167.3 miles and takes about 3h 32m, 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 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Masonic Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 79.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near US 84; LA 15 / Louisiana Avenue.

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 3h 32m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles (US 84; LA 15 / Louisiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.5 miles (LA 28): Navigation decision point; at 68.6 miles (LA 28): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 167.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (35%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA covers 167.3 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Masonic Drive, LA 28, Louisiana Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83.7 miles from Vidalia, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.27 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 straightforward 3h 32m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

The Creek Restaurant

The Creek Restaurant

Pujo St Cafe

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

The Cottage Restaurant

Brocatos Breakfast & Lunch

Little Tokyo

Lake Area Adventures

Tesla Supercharger

Eaton Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

TurnOnGreen Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Lake Charles Visitor Center

Millennium Park

Alexandria Museum of Art

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center

Escape Room Louisiana

We Rock the Spectrum - Lake Charles

The Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana

Bayou Escape Rooms

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Vidalia, LA

Lake Charles, LA

Same local time

29 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 32m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Vidalia, LA to Lake Charles, LA?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Lake Charles, LA

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