Origin
Woodworth, LA
Late night in Woodworth on Thursday
Local time
12:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Woodworth, LA to Lake Charles, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
83.8 mi
135 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodworth, LA
Abhishek Navlakha
Lake Charles, LA
Liisbet Luup
Trip Overview
Woodworth to Lake Charles is 83.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 44 minutes via US 165 and I 10, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's almost entirely highway driving, making it a straightforward and efficient trip. Given the short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering a quick connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.9 miles from Woodworth, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 165 | 68.5 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 10 | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Enterprise Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 165
— 68.5 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodworth, LA and Lake Charles, LA.
1
Start on US 165
69 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
US 165
2
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
3
Merge onto I 10
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 10
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
5
Turn straight onto US 90 Bus
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Enterprise Boulevard
6
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Enterprise Boulevard
7
Arrive at destination
Enterprise Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short, 1-hour 44-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time. Leaving anytime mid-morning should get you to Lake Charles with ample daylight. With the fuel cost estimated at $12, filling up before you leave Woodworth should be sufficient. There are no designated stops mentioned, so you can decide on the fly if you need a break, though the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 68.5 miles on US 165, which is a good point to consider if you want to stretch your legs.
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 41.9 miles from Woodworth, LA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.5 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 miles or 52m 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 28m
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 Woodworth, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Woodworth, LA
This is one driving day of about 83.8 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Woodworth, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 165 for about 68.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.9 miles from Woodworth, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 165 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 68.5 and 81.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
68.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
69 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
81.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.28 one way
$24.55 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $13.63 | $27.26 |
| premium | $4.49 | $14.80 | $29.60 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.47 | $36.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.80 | $4.02 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.33 | $3.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.73 | $5.36 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Lake Charles, LA
Late night in Lake Charles on Thursday
Local time
12:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
3 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
1h 44m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 97% of the route on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 68.5 miles on US 165 before transitioning. The bulk of your travel will be on I 10. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal deviations from high-speed roads until the very end.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.5 mi on US 165.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 165 and I 10. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 68.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Woodworth, LA to Lake Charles, LA is easy. At 1h 44m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 81.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Woodworth, LA
Full guide →Woodworth is a town 6 miles south of Alexandria and one of the fastest growing towns in central Louisiana.
Arriving in Lake Charles, LA
Full guide →Founded 1861
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.
Top landmarks
- • Muller's Department Store — historic department store in Lake Charles, Louisiana
- • Cash Grocery and Sales Company Warehouse
- • Calcasieu Parish Courthouse — historic building in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
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 44m. Total distance: 83.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.5 miles on US 165. 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 81.9 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 Lake Charles, 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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