How far is Ball, LA from Lake Charles, LA?

The driving distance from Ball, LA to Lake Charles, LA is about 106.9 miles (172.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 95.4 miles (153.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
106.91 mi
01h 53m
Flight
95.47 mi
153.64 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ball.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
95.47 mi
Kilometers
153.64 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
106.91 mi
Kilometers
172.06 km
Drive Time
01h 53m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Charles
Wed, May 13, 4:22 PM CDT
Return by in Ball
Wed, May 13, 6:16 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ball
2026-05-13T14:28
Arrive Lake Charles
Wed, May 13, 4:22 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:54 AM to 11:54 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ball
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Oakdale
LA

Small city in Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Ball
52.8 mi
00h 56m
To Lake Charles
54.2 mi
00h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
87°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ball and Lake Charles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ball and Lake Charles.

  1. 1

    Start on Monroe Highway

    59 m · 9 sec · Monroe Highway

  2. 2

    Continue on Monroe Highway

    7 mi · 11 min · Monroe Highway

  3. 3

    Continue on Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

    3004 ft · 43 sec · Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

  4. 4

    Continue on Macarthur Drive

    4.3 mi · 7 min · Macarthur Drive

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Masonic Circle

    763 ft · 15 sec · Masonic Drive

  6. 6

    Exit the rotary onto Masonic Drive

    78 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Masonic Drive

  7. 7

    Take the exit right

    2324 ft · 57 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    12.9 mi · 14 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    1605 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Enterprise Boulevard

    3249 ft · 1 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  11. 11

    Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

    1.6 km · 2 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ball and Lake Charles.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
12 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Masonic Drive
91.7 mi · 86%
Monroe Highway
7.07 mi · 7%
Macarthur Drive
4.27 mi · 4%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.61 mi · 2%
Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
0.57 mi · 1%
Masonic Circle
0.07 mi
Longest Stretch

Masonic Drive

Exit the rotary onto Masonic Drive

78 mi · 01h 36m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.5 mi
95.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oakdale
00h 56m from Ball
Leave By
2:42 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ball and Sunny near Lake Charles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ball to Lake Charles?

The road trip is about 106.9 miles (172.1 km) and usually takes 01h 53m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Oakdale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 52.8 miles from Ball and 54.2 miles from Lake Charles.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 95.4 miles (153.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.28 one way or $28.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ball and Sunny near Lake Charles.

Stop Ideas Near Oakdale

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Oakdale, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Oakdale.

RAIL

Lake Charles

83 mi away
100 Ryan Street
RAIL

Lafayette

90 mi away
133 East Grant St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ball and Lake Charles. Straight-line distance: 95.47 mi (153.64 km).

Ball

#1 Ball

Suburb town of Alexandria, located in Rapides Parish just north of Pineville, Louisiana, United States

Population3,906
Coordinates31.4154600, -92.4118000
Altitude49
CountryUnited States
Lake Charles

#2 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: US 165 (-92.411863, 31.415465)
End: Enterprise Boulevad (-93.204402, 30.21309)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 172 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.77 gal
14.28 L · about $14.28
Round trip
$28.55
7.54 gal · 28.56 L
Estimated CO2
33.5 kg one way
Round trip: 67 kg / 148 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $14.28 $28.55
Mid-grade $4.26 $16.06 $32.11
Premium $4.63 $17.44 $34.87
Diesel $5.42 $20.41 $40.83

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Louisiana · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Ball and Lake Charles. The current time is 14:28:46.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.