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

The driving distance from Jonesboro, LA to Lake Charles, LA is about 170.3 miles (274 km), with a travel time of about 02h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 143.1 miles (230.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 52m 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
170.26 mi
02h 56m
Flight
143.07 mi
230.25 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jonesboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
143.07 mi
Kilometers
230.25 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
170.26 mi
Kilometers
274.01 km
Drive Time
02h 56m

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 02h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Charles
Fri, Apr 10, 7:04 PM CDT
Return by in Jonesboro
Fri, Apr 10, 10:00 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jonesboro
2026-04-10T16:08
Arrive Lake Charles
Fri, Apr 10, 7:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jonesboro
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
Woodworth
LA

City in Stutsman County, North Dakota, United States of America

From Jonesboro
84.3 mi
01h 28m
To Lake Charles
85.9 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE
Destination
80°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Allen Avenue

    33 m · 2 sec · Allen Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Chatham Highway

    857 ft · 24 sec · Chatham Highway

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Hudson Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Hudson Avenue

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South Hudson Avenue

    1.6 km · 1 min · South Hudson Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Winnfield Highway

    21.7 mi · 28 min · Winnfield Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on East Lafayette Street

    43.1 mi · 52 min · East Lafayette Street

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 165: Monroe, Alexandria

    817 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on US 165 South: Alexandria

    101 m · 8 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Monroe Highway

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Monroe Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

    3004 ft · 43 sec · Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

  11. 11

    Continue on Macarthur Drive

    4.3 mi · 7 min · Macarthur Drive

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Masonic Circle

    763 ft · 15 sec · Masonic Drive

  13. 13

    Exit the rotary onto Masonic Drive

    78 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Masonic Drive

  14. 14

    Take the exit right

    2324 ft · 57 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    12.9 mi · 14 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1605 ft · 41 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Enterprise Boulevard

    3249 ft · 1 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

    1.6 km · 2 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jonesboro 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
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Masonic Drive
91.7 mi · 54%
East Lafayette Street
43.1 mi · 25%
Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi · 13%
Macarthur Drive
4.27 mi · 3%
Monroe Highway
2.88 mi · 2%
South Hudson Avenue
2.05 mi · 1%
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
02h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.2 mi
143.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodworth
01h 28m from Jonesboro
Leave By
12:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Jonesboro and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lake Charles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 170.3 miles (274 km) and usually takes 02h 56m 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?

Woodworth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.3 miles from Jonesboro and 85.9 miles from Lake Charles.

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

The direct path is about 143.1 miles (230.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.2 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 12:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.76 one way or $45.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Jonesboro and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lake Charles.

Stop Ideas Near Woodworth

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Woodworth, 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 Woodworth.

RAIL

Lafayette

112 mi away
133 East Grant St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jonesboro and Lake Charles. Straight-line distance: 143.07 mi (230.25 km).

Jonesboro

#1 Jonesboro

Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America

Population4,415
Coordinates32.2412700, -92.7159900
Altitude68
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: Allen Avenue (-92.715993, 32.24127)
End: Enterprise Boulevad (-93.204402, 30.21309)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 274 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.01 gal
22.74 L · about $22.76
Round trip
$45.52
12.02 gal · 45.48 L
Estimated CO2
53.4 kg one way
Round trip: 106.8 kg / 235 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $22.76 $45.52
Mid-grade $4.26 $25.60 $51.19
Premium $4.63 $27.80 $55.59
Diesel $5.42 $32.54 $65.09

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 · Apr 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Jonesboro and Lake Charles. The current time is 16:08:01.

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.