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

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Albany, LA is about 165 miles (265.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 157.6 miles (253.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 14m 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
165.06 mi
03h 07m
Flight
157.61 mi
253.65 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Charles.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
157.61 mi
Kilometers
253.65 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
165.06 mi
Kilometers
265.64 km
Drive Time
03h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Albany
Fri, Apr 10, 3:54 PM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Fri, Apr 10, 7:01 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-10T12:46
Arrive Albany
Fri, Apr 10, 3:54 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 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
10:46 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Charles
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
Breaux Bridge
LA

City in Saint Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Lake Charles
82.4 mi
01h 33m
To Albany
82.6 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
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
Destination
80°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Enterprise Boulevard

    146 m · 15 sec · Enterprise Boulevard

  2. 2

    Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Belden Street

    28 m · 2 sec · Belden Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left

    1211 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    128 mi · 2 hr 22 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 12 East: Hammond

    1.3 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Continue on West Florida Republic Parkway

    31.9 mi · 35 min · West Florida Republic Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 43: Albany, Springfield

    1596 ft · 39 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    61 m · 5 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto State Route 43

    2 mi · 4 min · State Route 43

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Florida Boulevard

    35 m · 2 sec · Florida Boulevard

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Florida Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
12 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Belden Street
128 mi · 78%
West Florida Republic Parkway
31.9 mi · 19%
State Route 43
2.05 mi · 1%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
I 12 East
0.78 mi
LA 43
0.34 mi
Longest Stretch

Belden Street

Merge slight left

128 mi · 02h 22m

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 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.4 mi
157.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Breaux Bridge
01h 33m from Lake Charles
Leave By
10:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 165 miles (265.6 km) and usually takes 03h 07m 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?

Breaux Bridge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.4 miles from Lake Charles and 82.6 miles from Albany.

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

The direct path is about 157.6 miles (253.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.4 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 10:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.04 one way or $44.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Breaux Bridge

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Breaux Bridge and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 6.9 mi away

Parks City Hall

Parks , LA
1010 Martin St, Parks, LA 70582
Rating 4.3/5 10 reviews Park
Lafayette Consolidated Government
Meeting point 10.5 mi away

Lafayette Consolidated Government

Lafayette , LA
705 W University Ave, Lafayette, LA 70506
Rating 3.4/5 9 reviews City government office,Government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 8.8 mi away

Housing Authority of Lafayette

Lafayette , LA
100 C O Cir, Lafayette, LA 70501
Rating 3.2/5 10 reviews Housing authority
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 13 mi away

City of St. Martinville Tourist Information Center

Saint Martinville , LA
125 S New Market St, St Martinville, LA 70582
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist information center

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Breaux Bridge.

RAIL

Lafayette

12 mi away
133 East Grant St.
RAIL

New Iberia

30 mi away
West Washington St.
BUS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

72 mi away
1253 Florida St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Albany. Straight-line distance: 157.61 mi (253.65 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Albany

Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America

Population1,170
Coordinates30.5043600, -90.5823100
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Albany (-90.58231, 30.50436)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 266 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.82 gal
22.05 L · about $22.04
Round trip
$44.08
11.64 gal · 44.1 L
Estimated CO2
51.7 kg one way
Round trip: 103.4 kg / 228 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $22.04 $44.08
Mid-grade $4.26 $24.79 $49.57
Premium $4.63 $26.92 $53.84
Diesel $5.42 $31.52 $63.03

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 Lake Charles and Albany. The current time is 12:46:59.

Distance to Other Cities

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