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

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Ball, LA is about 105.6 miles (169.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 95.4 miles (153.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 29m 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
105.59 mi
02h 14m
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 Lake Charles.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
105.59 mi
Kilometers
169.93 km
Drive Time
02h 14m

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 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ball
Wed, May 13, 5:53 PM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Wed, May 13, 8:08 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-05-13T15:38
Arrive Ball
Wed, May 13, 5:53 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:00 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Charles
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 Lake Charles
52.9 mi
01h 07m
To Ball
52.7 mi
01h 07m

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 mph
Destination
87°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    12.7 mi · 14 min

  6. 6

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

    2422 ft · 59 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    135 m · 12 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    78.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  9. 9

    Turn slight left onto Macarthur Drive

    1 km · 1 min · Macarthur Drive

  10. 10

    Turn right

    32 m · 7 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Macarthur Drive

    4 mi · 6 min · Macarthur Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

    3026 ft · 43 sec · Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

  13. 13

    Continue on Monroe Highway

    7 mi · 10 min · Monroe Highway

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Monroe Highway

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 165
78.7 mi · 75%
Belden Street
13 mi · 12%
Monroe Highway
7 mi · 7%
Macarthur Drive
4.6 mi · 4%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 2%
Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
0.57 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 165

Continue straight

78.1 mi · 01h 37m

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 14m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.2 mi
95.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oakdale
01h 07m from Lake Charles
Leave By
2:00 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lake Charles and Sunny near Ball.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 105.6 miles (169.9 km) and usually takes 02h 14m 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 52.9 miles from Lake Charles and 52.7 miles from Ball.

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 10.2 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 2:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.09 one way or $28.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Lake Charles and Ball. Straight-line distance: 95.47 mi (153.64 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Ball

#2 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
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Ball (-92.4118, 31.41546)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 170 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.72 gal
14.1 L · about $14.09
Round trip
$28.18
7.44 gal · 28.2 L
Estimated CO2
33.1 kg one way
Round trip: 66.1 kg / 146 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $14.09 $28.18
Mid-grade $4.26 $15.84 $31.69
Premium $4.63 $17.21 $34.41
Diesel $5.42 $20.14 $40.29

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 Lake Charles and Ball. The current time is 15:38:42.

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.