Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Leonville, LA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 52m

Distance

90.4 mi

146 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

11 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 44m ★

6 AM

1h 53m

8 AM

2h 9m

10 AM

1h 58m

12 PM

1h 57m

3 PM

1h 59m

5 PM

2h 8m

8 PM

1h 48m

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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Lake Charles, LA

Liisbet Luup

Leonville, LA

Vika Glitter

Trip Overview

The drive from Lake Charles, LA to Leonville, LA covers 90.4 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Basile Eunice Highway, US 165, 3rd Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.8 miles on Basile Eunice Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.65 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.

Midpoint

45.2 miles from Lake Charles, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Basile Eunice Highway	27.8 mi	31m
US 165	18.5 mi	22m
3rd Avenue	13 mi	14m
I 10	12.7 mi	14m
State Route 31	7.7 mi	13m
West Landry Street	4.4 mi	4m
Enterprise Boulevard	1.7 mi	3m
West Vine Street	1.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Basile Eunice Highway — 27.8 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Enterprise Boulevard

478 ft · 14 sec · Enterprise Boulevard

Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

1.6 mi · 3 min · Enterprise Boulevard

Turn right onto Belden Street

93 ft · 1 sec · Belden Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Merge onto I 10; US 90

13 mi · 14 min · I 10; US 90

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec

Toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria

Keep slight left at fork

444 ft · 11 sec

Continue on US 165

18 mi · 22 min · US 165

Turn right onto US 190

13 mi · 14 min · 3rd Avenue

Continue on US 190

28 mi · 31 min · Basile Eunice Highway

Continue on US 190

4.4 mi · 4 min · West Landry Street

Turn slight right onto US 190

1.4 mi · 1 min · West Vine Street

Turn right onto LA 182

0.4 mi · 43 sec · South Main Street

Turn left onto LA 182

234 ft · 6 sec · East Jefferson Street

Turn right onto LA 182

0.4 mi · 39 sec · South Union Street

Turn left onto LA 31

1.1 mi · 2 min · Creswell Lane

Continue on LA 31

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Cresswell Lane

Continue on LA 31

0.7 mi · 1 min · State Route 31

Continue on LA 31

7.0 mi · 12 min · State Route 31

Arrive at destination

LA 3254

Trip Plan

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 45.2 miles from Lake Charles, LA, or about 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.8 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 20 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 45.2 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 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leonville, LA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Lake Charles, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lake Charles, LA

This is one driving day of about 90.4 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Lake Charles, LA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Basile Eunice Highway for about 27.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eunice, LA

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Iowa, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elton, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.2 miles from Lake Charles, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Pujo St Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm

+13374392054

Visit website

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Charles, Louisiana

1.9 mi

Pujo St Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–9:30 pm

+13374392054

Visit website

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 6:30 am–3 pm

+13374746065

Visit website

Lake Area Adventures

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: 3–8 pm

+13373101681

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 12.9

Iowa, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

TurnOnGreen Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 12.9

Iowa, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15106572635

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 84

Opelousas, Louisiana

+33172676914

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

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 1.7 and 80.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | Belden Street

Turn right onto Belden Street

Navigation decision point

1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

14.7 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria

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

Toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria

15.2 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

80.3 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | LA 182 / South Main Street

Turn right onto LA 182 / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.65 one way

$27.31 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$14.99	$29.97
premium	$4.56	$16.23	$32.45
diesel	$5.61	$19.96	$39.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Henry's Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Iowa, LA

Tesla

16 DCFC

Lake Charles, LA

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

6 DCFC

Prien Lake Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger

Lake Charles, LA

Tesla

6 DCFC

Pilot Travel Center 1051

Iowa, LA

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

STERLING F & L FORD BACK LUBE

Opelousas, LA

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

STERLING F & L PL LINCOLN

Opelousas, LA

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

STERLING F & L FORD BACK 2-PL

Opelousas, LA

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

STERLING F & L CDJR BACK

Opelousas, LA

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 Tesla: 2 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 eVgo Network: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	27.1	$9.49	$4.34
Efficient EV	22.6	$7.91	$3.62
EV Truck/SUV	36.2	$12.66	$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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lake Charles, LA

Afternoon in Lake Charles on Sunday

Local time

1:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Leonville, LA

Afternoon in Leonville on Sunday

Local time

1:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°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

22 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 52m 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?

90.4 mi in 1h 52m — 43% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Basile Eunice Highway.

43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 27.8 mi on Basile Eunice Highway.

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 1.7 miles in near Belden Street.

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 1h 52m 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 1.7 miles (Belden Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Lake Charles, LA to Leonville, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Alexandria along the way.

Alexandria

14.7 mi in | ~18m

About the Cities

Starting in Lake Charles, LA

Full guide →

Lake Charles is the second-largest city in the Acadiana region of Louisiana, with 87,000 residents in 2022. It is well known for gaming and the great outdoors, culinary delights and rhythm and blues. There are over 75 annual festivals from the splendor of Mardi Gras to the swashbuckling days of the Contraband Days Pirate Festival, there is something going on nearly every weekend.

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 52m. Total distance: 90.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (43%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.8 miles on Basile Eunice Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Leonville, 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, 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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Explore More

Explore more options from Lake Charles, LA or browse trips ending in Leonville, LA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse LA road trips.

Trip from Lake Charles, LA to Leonville, 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

Pujo St Cafe

Pujo St Cafe

Southern Spice Restaurant & Grill

Lake Area Adventures

EVgo Charging Station

TurnOnGreen Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargeLab Charging Station

Lake Charles Visitor Center

Millennium Park

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center

Escape Room Louisiana

We Rock the Spectrum - Lake Charles

The Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana

Eunice Depot Museum

Bayou Escape Rooms

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lake Charles, LA

Leonville, LA

Same local time

22 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 52m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Lake Charles, LA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Leonville, LA

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