Driving from Ball to Lafayette covers 96.8 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $13 on fuel for the one-way trek. Navigating through the Southeast, you will rely on a combination of Monroe Highway, US 165 North, and the Pineville Expressway to reach your destination. This route is straightforward for those looking for a direct path between these two Louisiana locations without the hassle of a multi-day commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Ball, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi
1h 17m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi
9m
Monroe Highway
4.2 mi
6m
Pineville Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
1.9 mi
3m
US 167
0.8 mi
1m
Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi
<1m
Jefferson Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
— 76 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ball, LA and Lafayette, LA.
1
Start on US 165; LA 1204
192 ft·8 sec·Monroe Highway
2
Continue on US 165; LA 1204
4.1 mi·6 min·Monroe Highway
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 165 North: Monroe
4
Merge onto US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·Pineville Expressway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
0.8 mi·1 min·US 167
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
6
Merge onto I 49; US 167; US 71 BYP
76 mi·1 hr 17 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
7
Continue on I 49; US 167
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
8
Continue on I 49; LA 182
1.9 mi·3 min·Northwest Evangeline Thruway
9
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
0.2 mi·33 sec·Jefferson Boulevard
10
Continue on Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi·51 sec·Rue Jefferson
11
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
335 ft·16 sec·Rue Vermilion Ouest
12
Arrive at destination
Rue Vermilion Ouest
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1 hour and 29 minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 96.8-mile distance without needing to build in any formal stops for rest or refueling, provided you start with a full tank. Keep in mind that because the route relies entirely on local roads, you should stay alert for traffic patterns that differ from those on major interstates. If you are planning a round trip, factor in a total fuel budget of at least $26 to ensure you aren't caught off guard. Prioritize checking your tire pressure and vehicle fluids before leaving Ball, as the turn-heavy nature of this drive is more demanding on your car than a straight highway run.
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 48.3 miles from Ball, LA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 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 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ball, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ball, LA
This is one driving day of about 96.6 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ball, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway for about 76 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.2 and 96.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward US 165 North: Monroe
Navigation decision point
Toward US 165 North: Monroe
3
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in|US 167 / Pineville Expressway
Merge onto US 167 / Pineville Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
8.6 mi into trip|~13m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
4
96 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|Jefferson Boulevard
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
96.5 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|Rue Vermilion Ouest
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.59 one way
$29.18 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.02
$32.03
premium
$4.56
$17.34
$34.68
diesel
$5.61
$21.33
$42.66
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.14
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.45
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.52
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Ball, LA
Late night
in Ball on Tuesday
Local time
5:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lafayette, LA
Late night
in Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
5:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route contains no highway-exclusive stretches. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain on local roads that require more active steering and attention to changing conditions. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches on Monroe Highway, as the road layout encourages a more engaged driving experience. The character of the trip is defined by these constant shifts, making it a different pace than a standard high-speed commute. Prepare for a hands-on experience behind the wheel that reflects the local infrastructure of the region.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76 mi on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway.
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 4.2 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (US 167 / Pineville Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 8.6 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Lafayette is a city in Louisiana. It's the unofficial capital of Acadiana or Cajun Country. This flourishing moderate sized city is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Music and dancing is an integral part of community life. Several restaurants and dance halls thrive in the area and the city hosts several musical festivals throughout the year.
The longest stretch is about 76 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.13 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Evangeline Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (US 167 / Pineville Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 8.6 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lafayette, LA before heading back.
