How far is Lake Charles, LA from Banks Springs, LA?

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Banks Springs, LA is about 158.5 miles (255.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144.9 miles (233.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 30m 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
158.49 mi
03h 15m
Flight
144.9 mi
233.19 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
144.9 mi
Kilometers
233.19 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
158.49 mi
Kilometers
255.06 km
Drive Time
03h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Banks Springs
Wed, Apr 15, 4:44 PM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Wed, Apr 15, 7:59 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-15T13:28
Arrive Banks Springs
Wed, Apr 15, 4:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 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
10:30 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
Forest Hill
LA

Village in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Lake Charles
79.3 mi
01h 37m
To Banks Springs
79.1 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
88°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles and Banks Springs.

  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

    59.9 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Monroe Highway

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 165
78.7 mi · 50%
Monroe Highway
59.9 mi · 38%
Belden Street
13 mi · 8%
Macarthur Drive
4.6 mi · 3%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
0.57 mi
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 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 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.6 mi
144.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Forest Hill
01h 37m from Lake Charles
Leave By
10:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Lake Charles and Partly Sunny near Banks Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Charles to Banks Springs?

The road trip is about 158.5 miles (255.1 km) and usually takes 03h 15m 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?

Forest Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.3 miles from Lake Charles and 79.1 miles from Banks Springs.

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

The direct path is about 144.9 miles (233.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.6 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 10:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.17 one way or $42.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Lake Charles and Partly Sunny near Banks Springs.

Stop Ideas Near Forest Hill

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

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

RAIL

Lafayette

103 mi away
133 East Grant St.
RAIL

Lake Charles

111 mi away
100 Ryan Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Banks Springs. Straight-line distance: 144.9 mi (233.19 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 Banks Springs

Banks Springs is a place in Louisiana, United States.

Population0
Coordinates32.0821000, -92.0929100
Altitude60
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Banks Springs (-92.09291, 32.0821)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 255 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.59 gal
21.17 L · about $21.17
Round trip
$42.34
11.18 gal · 42.34 L
Estimated CO2
49.7 kg one way
Round trip: 99.4 kg / 219 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $21.17 $42.34
Mid-grade $4.26 $23.81 $47.62
Premium $4.63 $25.85 $51.71
Diesel $5.42 $30.27 $60.54

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Banks Springs. The current time is 13:28:39.

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.