Origin
Baton Rouge, LA
Late night in Baton Rouge on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Baton Rouge, LA to Lafayette, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Connecting Baton Rouge to Lafayette is a quick, straightforward journey covering 55.2 miles across Southeast Louisiana. You can easily complete this drive in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a very economical route for a spontaneous weekend getaway or a necessary commute between these two hubs. Because the transit time is under an hour, you won't need to worry about splitting the drive into multiple days. This trip serves as an efficient link between the capital city and the heart of Acadiana, offering a practical way to experience more of the state in a short amount of time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Horace Wilkinson Bridge | 51.7 mi | 58m |
| Northwest Evangeline Thruway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Veterans Memorial Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rue Jefferson | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Saint Ferdinand Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Rue Vermilion Ouest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Government Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Horace Wilkinson Bridge
— 51.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baton Rouge, LA and Lafayette, LA.
1
Start on Government Street
300 ft
·
10 sec
·
Government Street
2
Turn right onto Saint Ferdinand Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Saint Ferdinand Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
4
Merge onto I 10
52 mi
·
58 min
·
Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward US 167: Morgan City
6
Merge onto I 49
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
7
Continue on I 49; LA 182
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
8
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
9
Continue on Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Rue Jefferson
10
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
335 ft
·
16 sec
·
Rue Vermilion Ouest
11
Arrive at destination
Rue Vermilion Ouest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 27.6 miles from Baton Rouge, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 55.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Saint Ferdinand Street
Turn right onto Saint Ferdinand Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Merge onto I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
52.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward US 167: Morgan City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 167: Morgan City
4
54.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Jefferson Boulevard
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Rue Vermilion Ouest
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.34 one way
$16.67 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.15 | $18.30 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.91 | $19.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
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: 19.3 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 | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
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 Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 55.2-mile stretch. You will navigate through local roads starting with Saint Ferdinand Street and crossing the Horace Wilkinson Bridge before transitioning onto US 167. With a highway share of 0%, this route demands your full attention as you maneuver through changing local segments. Because the road lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you will find yourself constantly engaged with the steering wheel. It is a functional path that favors local connectivity over the high-speed, hands-off experience found on major interstates.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.7 mi on Horace Wilkinson Bridge.
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 0.1 miles in near Saint Ferdinand Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 7 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 (Saint Ferdinand Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Baton Rouge, LA
Full guide →Founded 1719
Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, USA. Located on the east bank of the mighty Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is Louisiana's second largest city, home of Louisiana State University, major port facilities, and a variety of attractions.
Top landmarks
- • Louisiana State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Louisiana
- • USS Kidd — 1943 Fletcher-class destroyer
- • Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center — hotel in Baton Rouge, United States
Arriving in Lafayette, LA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.7 miles on Horace Wilkinson Bridge. 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 0.1 miles (Saint Ferdinand Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lafayette, LA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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