How far is Benton, LA from Lafayette, LA?

The driving distance from Benton, LA to Lafayette, LA is about 225.9 miles (363.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 198.6 miles (319.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
225.94 mi
03h 22m
Flight
198.6 mi
319.61 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Benton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
198.6 mi
Kilometers
319.61 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
225.94 mi
Kilometers
363.62 km
Drive Time
03h 22m

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 03h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lafayette
Tue, May 12, 8:57 PM CDT
Return by in Benton
Wed, May 13, 12:19 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Benton
2026-05-12T17:34
Arrive Lafayette
Tue, May 12, 8:57 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:23 AM to 11:23 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Benton
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Colfax
LA

Parish seat in Louisiana, United States.

From Benton
112.6 mi
01h 41m
To Lafayette
113.4 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
82°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Benton and Lafayette.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Benton and Lafayette.

  1. 1

    Start on Simpson Street

    27 m · 7 sec · Simpson Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Highway 3

    4.6 mi · 7 min · Highway 3

  3. 3

    Continue on Benton Road

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Benton Road

  4. 4

    Turn slight right

    72 m · 9 sec

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Walter O. Bigby Carriageway

    1 km · 1 min · Walter O. Bigby Carriageway

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Walter O Bigby Carriageway

    47 m · 4 sec · Walter O Bigby Carriageway

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Walter O Bigby Carriageway

    1163 ft · 28 sec · Walter O Bigby Carriageway

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Hamilton Road

    68 m · 6 sec · Hamilton Road

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto Hamilton Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Hamilton Road

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right

    1152 ft · 28 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Recipients Highway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Recipients Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South: Alexandria

    1.3 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    197.9 mi · 3 hr 23 min · Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  15. 15

    Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Northwest Evangeline Thruway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard

    1147 ft · 34 sec · Jefferson Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on Rue Jefferson

    1654 ft · 52 sec · Rue Jefferson

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest

    102 m · 17 sec · Rue Vermilion Ouest

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Rue Vermilion Ouest

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Benton and Lafayette.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
198 mi · 88%
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.75 mi · 4%
Benton Road
6.27 mi · 3%
Highway 3
4.56 mi · 2%
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.88 mi · 1%
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
1.87 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

Continue on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

198 mi · 03h 23m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.3 mi
198.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Colfax
01h 41m from Benton
Leave By
10:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Benton and Mostly Sunny near Lafayette.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Benton to Lafayette?

The road trip is about 225.9 miles (363.6 km) and usually takes 03h 22m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Colfax is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.6 miles from Benton and 113.4 miles from Lafayette.

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

The direct path is about 198.6 miles (319.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.18 one way or $60.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Benton and Mostly Sunny near Lafayette.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Benton and Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 198.6 mi (319.61 km).

Benton

#1 Benton

Suburb town of Shreveport, located in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States of America

Population2,092
Coordinates32.6948700, -93.7418500
Altitude63
CountryUnited States
Lafayette

#2 Lafayette

The third most populous city in Acadiana, Louisiana.

Population126,535
Coordinates30.2240900, -92.0198400
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Start: Simpson Street (-93.74185, 32.694959)
End: South Buchanan Street (-92.019794, 30.224075)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 364 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.97 gal
30.18 L · about $30.18
Round trip
$60.36
15.94 gal · 60.36 L
Estimated CO2
70.8 kg one way
Round trip: 141.7 kg / 312 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $30.18 $60.36
Mid-grade $4.26 $33.94 $67.89
Premium $4.63 $36.86 $73.72
Diesel $5.42 $43.16 $86.32

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Benton and Lafayette. The current time is 17:34:21.

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.